US3603466A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for unloading and blending layered stacks of bricks or similar articles
Assignee: LINGL BELL CORP
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Filing: 1970-05-22
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1990-05-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for mechanically unloading a layer or double layers of layered stacks of rows of bricks or similar articles stacked, for example, on kiln cars or pallets and for selectively and variably blending bricks from different rows and/or from different layers of the stack to provide a blended balance between different brick firing qualities and/or to achieve special coloring effects in the final blended output. Bricks from one layer of the stack are stored on one of a plurality of storage levels and one or two rows of bricks from each level are separated and mixed with other separated rows of bricks from the same or other storage levels to achieve the desired blending pattern. Special handling also permits the mixing of bricks from less than a whole row of bricks from one layer with less than a whole row of bricks from another layer for increased flexibility in achieving any desired blend.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans M L Lingl Jr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 18:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for unloading and blending bricks from layered stacks of rows of bricks, said method comprising the steps of: gripping at least one layer of said rows of bricks, transferring said gripped bricks to a receiving conveyor table, storing said rows of bricks in one of a plurality of storage levels, indexing at least one row of bricks from each of said storage levels into a corresponding level of a multilevel feeding conveyor, and blending the bricks by mixing bricks from one of said indexed rows in one of said levels with bricks from another one of said indexed rows in the same or another one of said levels in any desired sequence.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for unloading and blending bricks from layered stacks of rows of bricks, said method comprising the steps of: gripping at least one layer of said rows of bricks, transferring said gripped bricks to a receiving conveyor table, storing said rows of bricks in one of a plurality of storage levels, indexing at least one row of bricks from each of said storage levels into a corresponding level of a multilevel feeding conveyor, and blending the bricks by mixing bricks from one of said indexed rows in one of said levels with bricks from another one of said indexed rows in the same or another one of said levels in any desired sequence.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for unloading and blending bricks from layered stacks of spread apart bricks such as those coming from a kiln, said method comprising the steps of: gripping at least one layer of said spread apart bricks, transferring said gripped and spread apart bricks to a receiving conveyor table, closing up said spread apart bricks to form laterally abutting rows of bricks, storing said abutting rows of bricks in a selected one of a plurality of storage levels, indexing at least one row of bricks from each of said storage levels into a corresponding level of a feeding conveyor, and blending said indexed rows by mixing bricks from one of said indexed rows in one of said levels with bricks from another one of said indexed rows in the same or another one of said levels in any desired sequence.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
140 words
A method for unloading and blending bricks from layered stacks of spread apart bricks such as those coming from a kiln, said method comprising the steps of: gripping at least one layer of said spread apart bricks, transferring said gripped and spread apart bricks to a receiving conveyor table, closing up said spread apart bricks to form laterally abutting rows of bricks, storing said abutting rows of bricks in a selected one of a plurality of storage levels, indexing at least one row of bricks from each of said storage levels into a corresponding level of a feeding conveyor, and blending said indexed rows by mixing bricks from one of said indexed rows in one of said levels with bricks from another one of said indexed rows in the same or another one of said levels in any desired sequence.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein: said gripping step comprises gripping a double layer of spread apart bricks having abutting face surfaces wherein the bottom layer of the double layer faces upwardly and the top layer faces downwardly, and wherein after said closing up step there is included another step of unfacing said double layer of bricks by gripping said top layer of bricks and subsequently rotating the entire top layer through substantially 180* thereby orienting the top layer faces upwardly similar to the already upwardly facing bottom layer and thus providing rows of laterally abutting upwardly facing bricks in a single layer for use in subsequent steps.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as in claim 1 wherein said storing step comprises: conveying said rows of bricks from said conveyor table onto one of at least two levels of a storage elevator conveyor, vertically adjusting said one storage elevator level to coincide with one of said storage levels, and conveying said rows from said storage elevator conveyor onto said coincident storage level.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method as in claim 4 wherein: said first mentioned conveying step is performed using bricks from one layer of said layered stack, and said second mentioned conveying step is simultaneously performed at another one of said levels of said storage elevator using bricks from another layer of said layered stack.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
87 words
A method as in claim 2 wherein said blending by mixing step comprises: conveying said first mentioned indexed row from said feeding conveyor onto one of at least two levels of a blending elevator conveyor already containing bricks remaining from said second mentioned indexed row, vertically adjusting said one blending elevator level to coincide with an off-bearing conveyor, conveying at least part of said first and sad remaining bricks from said second mentioned indexed row on said one level of said blending elevator onto said off-bearing conveyor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein said remaining bricks from said second mentioned indexed row are maintained stationary during said first-mentioned conveying step.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein said first-mentioned conveying step is performed using bricks from one of said storage levels, and said second-mentioned conveying step is simultaneously performed at another of said levels of said blending elevator conveyor using bricks from another of said storage levels.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
SU118293A1
Cited
US3487959A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |