US3625375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for positioning material such as brick blanks, in stacks
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1970-04-22
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Granted: 1971-12-07
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Expires: 1990-04-22
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for assembling bricks in layers or flats for stacking on a kiln car or the like wherein bricks of different sizes can be assembled in transverse rows that are spaced at various distances from one another by first moving the bricks in longitudinal rows on a feed belt against a stop which compacts them together longitudinally of the feed belt and at the same time aligns them into the transverse rows, which are then moved onto a transfer belt by automatically programming the starts and stops of the feed belt as the transfer belt is run continuously during the assembly of the layer, so that each row is moved onto the transfer belt and then moved a predetermined distance to space it the required amount from the next row on the feed belt while the latter is momentarily stopped. The invention also includes a method and means for forming oblong stacks by feeding different numbers of longitudinal rows for alternate layers of the stack, the number of longitudinal rows for alternate layers of the stack, the number of longitudinal rows for alternate layers of the stack, the number of longitudinal rows for one layer corresponding to the length of the stack and the number of longitudinal rows for the alternate layer corresponding to the width of the stack.
Inventors
- 👤 Johann Lingi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:31
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G57/00; B65G57/02; B65G57/16; B65G57/20; B65G57/22; B65G57/26; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of stacking bricks which comprises the steps of moving a plurality of adjacenT longitudinal rows of brick onto a feed belt, aligning the bricks in transverse rows by moving said longitudinal rows lengthwise against a fence, thereupon raising said fence and starting said feed belt in order to move a first of said transverse rows onto a transfer belt while running said transfer belt in the same direction as, and at substantially the same speed as, said feed belt, stopping said feed belt for a predetermined length of time when said first transverse row is disposed on said transfer belt while continuing to run said transfer belt such that said first transverse row is spaced a predetermined distance from the next transverse row on said feed belt, and sequentially starting and stopping said feed belt in timed relation with the speed of said transfer belt in order to form a layer of said transverse rows on said transfer belt with said transverse rows spaced at predetermined distances from each other, and thereafter gripping the ends of said transverse rows while maintaining the spacing between them in order to lift them as a layer, and then depositing said layer at a stacking station.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
204 words
A method of stacking bricks which comprises the steps of moving a plurality of adjacenT longitudinal rows of brick onto a feed belt, aligning the bricks in transverse rows by moving said longitudinal rows lengthwise against a fence, thereupon raising said fence and starting said feed belt in order to move a first of said transverse rows onto a transfer belt while running said transfer belt in the same direction as, and at substantially the same speed as, said feed belt, stopping said feed belt for a predetermined length of time when said first transverse row is disposed on said transfer belt while continuing to run said transfer belt such that said first transverse row is spaced a predetermined distance from the next transverse row on said feed belt, and sequentially starting and stopping said feed belt in timed relation with the speed of said transfer belt in order to form a layer of said transverse rows on said transfer belt with said transverse rows spaced at predetermined distances from each other, and thereafter gripping the ends of said transverse rows while maintaining the spacing between them in order to lift them as a layer, and then depositing said layer at a stacking station.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 in which every second layer removed from the transfer belt is rotated through 90* in relation to the preceding layer before being deposited.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
248 words
Apparatus for assembling and stacking bricks comprising in combination a conveyor feed belt movable in one direction and a transfer belt disposed in the same plane at the discharge end of said feed belt substantially contiguous therewith and movable in same direction and at the same speed as said feed belt, means for moving bricks onto said feed belt in a plurality of adjacent longitudinal rows, a stop disposed at the discharge end of said feed belt and movable into and out of the path of longitudinal rows of bricks for aligning said bricks in transverse rows across said feed belt, a timer synchronized with movement of said transfer belt for automatically starting said feed belt in order to move said transverse rows successively onto said transfer belt while the latter is moving and for stopping said feed belt after predetermined intervals, the length of which depend on the size of said brick, and for predetermined lengths of time in order to space said transverse rows any desired distance one from the other on said transfer belt, said timer having means for programming such intermittent movement of said feed belt such that a layer of said transverse rows is assembled on said transfer belt with the desired spacing between said rows, and means for gripping said layer at the ends of said transverse rows, for lifting it from said transfer belt without disturbing the spacing between said transverse rows and for depositing said layer at a stacking station.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
248 words
Apparatus for assembling and stacking bricks comprising in combination a conveyor feed belt movable in one direction and a transfer belt disposed in the same plane at the discharge end of said feed belt substantially contiguous therewith and movable in same direction and at the same speed as said feed belt, means for moving bricks onto said feed belt in a plurality of adjacent longitudinal rows, a stop disposed at the discharge end of said feed belt and movable into and out of the path of longitudinal rows of bricks for aligning said bricks in transverse rows across said feed belt, a timer synchronized with movement of said transfer belt for automatically starting said feed belt in order to move said transverse rows successively onto said transfer belt while the latter is moving and for stopping said feed belt after predetermined intervals, the length of which depend on the size of said brick, and for predetermined lengths of time in order to space said transverse rows any desired distance one from the other on said transfer belt, said timer having means for programming such intermittent movement of said feed belt such that a layer of said transverse rows is assembled on said transfer belt with the desired spacing between said rows, and means for gripping said layer at the ends of said transverse rows, for lifting it from said transfer belt without disturbing the spacing between said transverse rows and for depositing said layer at a stacking station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said feed belt comprises a plurality of parallel belts, each independently driven and controlled, so that the number of said longitudinal rows of bricks being fed to said transfer belt can be varied in order to vary the length of said transverse rows for different layers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said programming means comprises a plurality of cam disks and a limit switch associated with each of said cam disks for starting and stopping said feed belt, and a selector switch for shifting from one cam disk to another in order to change the program for different size bricks and for changing the spacing between said transverse rows of bricks.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of stacking bricks which comprises the steps of moving a plurality of adjacent, parallel and longitudinal rows of brick onto a feed belt, transversely aligning the bricks in said rows on said feed belt while moving said rows thereon, moving said feed belt to transfer a first of said transverse rows onto a transfer belt while running said transfer belt in the same direction as, and at substantially the same speed as, said feed belt, stopping said feed belt for a predetermined length of time when said first transverse row is disposed on said transfer belt while continuing to run said transfer belt such that said first transverse row is spaced a predetermined distance from the next transverse row on said transfer belt, and sequentially starting and stopping said feed belt for predetermined intervals in timed relation with the speed of said transfer belt, the length of said intervals depending upon the size of said brick in order to space said transverse rows one from another thereby forming a layer of said transverse rows on said transfer belt with said transverse rows spaced at predetermined distances from each other, and thereafter gripping the ends of said layer of transverse rows while maintaining the spacing between the rows, lifting the gripped layer, and then depositing said gripped layer in a stack at a stacking station.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
226 words
A method of stacking bricks which comprises the steps of moving a plurality of adjacent, parallel and longitudinal rows of brick onto a feed belt, transversely aligning the bricks in said rows on said feed belt while moving said rows thereon, moving said feed belt to transfer a first of said transverse rows onto a transfer belt while running said transfer belt in the same direction as, and at substantially the same speed as, said feed belt, stopping said feed belt for a predetermined length of time when said first transverse row is disposed on said transfer belt while continuing to run said transfer belt such that said first transverse row is spaced a predetermined distance from the next transverse row on said transfer belt, and sequentially starting and stopping said feed belt for predetermined intervals in timed relation with the speed of said transfer belt, the length of said intervals depending upon the size of said brick in order to space said transverse rows one from another thereby forming a layer of said transverse rows on said transfer belt with said transverse rows spaced at predetermined distances from each other, and thereafter gripping the ends of said layer of transverse rows while maintaining the spacing between the rows, lifting the gripped layer, and then depositing said gripped layer in a stack at a stacking station.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 6 in which every second layer removed from the transfer belt is rotated through 90* in relation to the preceding layer before being deposited.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for assembling and stacking bricks comprising in combination a conveyor feed belt movable in one direction and a transfer belt disposed in the same plane at the discharge end of said feed belt substantially contiguous therewith and movable in same direction and at the same speed as said feed belt, means for moving bricks onto said feed belt in a plurality of adjacent, parallel and longitudinal rows, means for aligning said bricks in transverse rows across said feed belt, timing means synchronized with movement of said transfer belt for automatically starting said feed belt in order to move said transverse rows successively onto said transfer belt while latter is moving and for stopping said feed belt after predetermined intervals, the length of said intervals depending on the size of said brick, and for predetermined lengths of time in order to space said transverse rows predetermined distances one from the other on said transfer belt such that a layer of said transverse rows is assembled on said transfer belt with predetermined spacing between said rows, and means for gripping said layer at the ends of said transverse rows, for lifting it from said transfer belt without disturbing the spacing between said transverse rows and for depositing said layer in a stack at a stacking station.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
215 words
Apparatus for assembling and stacking bricks comprising in combination a conveyor feed belt movable in one direction and a transfer belt disposed in the same plane at the discharge end of said feed belt substantially contiguous therewith and movable in same direction and at the same speed as said feed belt, means for moving bricks onto said feed belt in a plurality of adjacent, parallel and longitudinal rows, means for aligning said bricks in transverse rows across said feed belt, timing means synchronized with movement of said transfer belt for automatically starting said feed belt in order to move said transverse rows successively onto said transfer belt while latter is moving and for stopping said feed belt after predetermined intervals, the length of said intervals depending on the size of said brick, and for predetermined lengths of time in order to space said transverse rows predetermined distances one from the other on said transfer belt such that a layer of said transverse rows is assembled on said transfer belt with predetermined spacing between said rows, and means for gripping said layer at the ends of said transverse rows, for lifting it from said transfer belt without disturbing the spacing between said transverse rows and for depositing said layer in a stack at a stacking station.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
Apparatus as defined in claim 8 wherein said feed belt comprises a plurality of parallel belts, each independently driven and controlled, so that the number of said longitudinal rows of bricks being fed to said transfer belt can be varied in order to vary the length of said transverse rows for different layers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-06 | 1975-06-07 | 1975-12-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-06 | 1979-06-07 | 1979-12-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-06 | 1983-06-07 | 1983-12-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |