Apparatus for stacking bricks and other articles

Claim 1

Apparatus for stacking articles in layers comprising a first conveyor, first gripper means for delivering the articles as compact layers on to the first conveyor, which articles have been received in loose but regular batches, said first gripper means being movable vertically and horizontally, second and third gripper means for onward conveyance of the compact layers parallel to the horizontal direction of movement of the first gripper means, both said second and third gripper means being movable vertically and being rotatable about a respective vertical axis, said second and third gripper means being disposed to take up compacted layers from the first conveyor, second and third conveyors arranged to receive selectively compact layers from the second and third gripper means, said second and third conveyors running parallel to the first conveyor and being spaced horizontally from one another, two retractable stop means, one said stop means being disposed for cooperation with a layer on the second conveyor and the other stop means being disposed for cooperation with a layer on the third conveyor whereby layers of articles on these conveyors can be compacted, fourth and fifth conveyors arranged to receive layers of articles respectively from the second and third conveyors, fourth and fifth gripper means each movable vertically and being rotatable about a respective vertical axis, table means for receiving selectively layers from the fourth and fifth conveyors by means of said fourth and fifth gripper means, said table means being capable of supporting a stack built up from the said layers, a fixed support base, a transfer mechanism for transferring a completed stack from the table means on to the fixed support base, transverse thrust means, and a sixth conveyor, said transverse thrust means serving to transfer a stack on said fixed support base on to the sixth conveyor.