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US3666093A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Apparatus for sensing and ejecting bricks of improper size
Assignee: Forrest Paschal Machinery Co
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Filing: 1970-08-18
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Granted: 1972-05-30
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Expires: 1990-08-18
Abstract
Abstract Raw bricks are cut from an extruded column of clay and conveyed in single file past a sensing means including an inclined light path extending between a light source and a plurality of photocells arranged linearly along one side of the conveyor. The light path cuts through one corner of each brick, and the photocell arrangement measures the thickness thereof. The sensing means is adapted for use with both ''''standard'''' and ''''utility'''' size bricks and also effective to determine undersize as well as oversize bricks. A brick ejecting means is mounted adjacent the conveyor, immediately succeeding the photocells, and is responsive to the sensing means to eject prescribed bricks of improper thickness. The ejecting means includes a pivotal kickoff lever attached to the free end of an air cylinder and so arranged as to deliver a sharp blow to the end of a prescribed brick during the upward portion of its arcuate path. Such an arrangement imparts to the brick a strong, upward and outward movement without further or continuous engagement by the lever, and eliminates the frictional drag of the conveyor belt facilitating removal of the brick therefrom. The transverse path of the lever is angularly adjustable with respect to the conveyor path, so that the force imparted by the lever includes a longitudinal component along the conveyor path as well as a transverse component to utilize somewhat the impetus of the brick along the conveyor in lifting and removing it therefrom.
Inventors
- 👤 La Verne Thornton
- 👤 Gerald L Stuart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:12
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C5/00; B07C5/04; B07C5/10; G; G07; G07C; G07C3/00; G07C3/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
An apparatus for removing raw bricks of an improper size from a conveyor continuously carrying a column of closely spaced bricks from a brick-making machine to a hacking machine in preparation for curing in a kiln comprising: a. sensing means for determining which bricks are to be removed, said sensing means including; i. a light source mounted on one side of said conveyor means for generating a light path transverse to said conveyor means and intersecting the path of said bricks therealong; ii. photoelectric means mounted on the other side of said conveyor means in said light path and receiving light therefrom for generating a sIgnal in response to a brick of improper size on said conveyor; iii. said light source and said photoelectric means being so arranged with relation to each other that said light path is inclined and passes through only one end portion of each brick, whereby in the event some bricks are skewed on the conveyor bricks of proper size will not be removed; b. a transversely movable kickoff mechanism mounted adjacent said conveyor means for removing preselected bricks from said conveyor; and c control means responsive to said signal from the photoelectric means for activating said kickoff mechanism.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
An apparatus for removing raw bricks of an improper size from a conveyor continuously carrying a column of closely spaced bricks from a brick-making machine to a hacking machine in preparation for curing in a kiln comprising: a. sensing means for determining which bricks are to be removed, said sensing means including; i. a light source mounted on one side of said conveyor means for generating a light path transverse to said conveyor means and intersecting the path of said bricks therealong; ii. photoelectric means mounted on the other side of said conveyor means in said light path and receiving light therefrom for generating a sIgnal in response to a brick of improper size on said conveyor; iii. said light source and said photoelectric means being so arranged with relation to each other that said light path is inclined and passes through only one end portion of each brick, whereby in the event some bricks are skewed on the conveyor bricks of proper size will not be removed; b. a transversely movable kickoff mechanism mounted adjacent said conveyor means for removing preselected bricks from said conveyor; and c control means responsive to said signal from the photoelectric means for activating said kickoff mechanism.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said transversely movable kickoff mechanism includes a brick engaging member and an air cylinder with a piston, said brick engaging member being pivotally mounted at one end thereof to swing through an arc transverse to said conveyor, the free end of said air cylinder engaging the rear edge of said brick engaging member and adapted to urge said member in its arcuate path, the stroke length of said piston being shorter than the length of one of said bricks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said brick engaging member is movable in an arcuate path transverse to said conveyor means between a first position out of the path of said bricks along said conveyor means and a second position interrupting the path of said bricks, said lever striking selected bricks during the upswing of said arcuate path thereby imparting an upward and outward movement to said brick being ejected, means for varying the duration of the stroke of said piston, and a stop defining the second position of said brick engaging member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said means for varying the duration of the stroke of said piston comprises a plurality of attaching means along the rear edge of said brick engaging members spaced at varying distances from the pivotal mounted end thereof, said piston being attachable to one of said attachment means, whereby the distance from the attachment point to the free end of said brick engaging member may be varied.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the arcuate path of said brick engaging member is adjustable between an angle perpendicular to the longitudinal path of said conveyor and angles acute to the longitudinal path of the conveyor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said photoelectric means includes a plurality of photocells arranged in a linear pattern and said control means includes an electrical logic circuit, said logic circuit responsive to the reception of light by said photocells to selectively activate said kickoff mechanism.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said photoelectric means includes at least three photocells and said logic circuit includes a relay associated with and energized by each photocell, said logic circuit includes the relay contacts connected in series and normally open in the condition where the photocells are receiving light, so that a brick must block all three photocells to activate the kickoff mechanism.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said photoelectric means includes at least four photocells and said logic circuit includes a relay associated with and energized by each photocell, and further including a selector switch for selectively including and removing one of said photocells from the logic circuit, the fourth photocell adapting said apparatus for use with utility size bricks, yet is adapted for removal from the circuit for use with standard size bricks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said photocells are so spaced that an oversized utility brick will block the light from said light source to all four photocells and an undersized utility brick will block the light from said light source to only one of said photocells at any selected time, whereby either oversized or undersized utility bricks may be ejected.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said contrOl means includes a time delay means for introducing a delay between the generation of a signal to activate from said logic circuit and the activating of said kickoff mechanism, so that a brick on said conveyor will be centered in front of said brick engaging member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
215 words
In combination with a conveyor continuously carrying a column of closely spaced raw bricks from a brick-making machine to a hacking machine in preparation for curing in a kiln, an apparatus for removing bricks of improper size from the conveyor comprising: a. sensing means for determining which bricks are to be removed including a light source providing a light path transverse to and intersecting the path of said bricks and a photoelectric means in said light path on the opposite side of said brick column; b. a kickoff mechanism responsive to a signal from said sensing means for removing selected bricks from said column without affecting the remaining bricks in said column, said kickoff mechanism including a lever pivotally mounted and selectively movable by an activating means in an arc defining a vertical plane generally perpendicular to and intersecting the brick path; c. said activating means delivering through said lever a sharp blow to the end of a selected brick, said lever being moved into the path of the brick column after the brick preceding said selected brick has passed and out of the path of said brick column before the brick next succeeding said selected brick arrives so as not to interfere with any of the bricks in said column except said selected brick.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
215 words
In combination with a conveyor continuously carrying a column of closely spaced raw bricks from a brick-making machine to a hacking machine in preparation for curing in a kiln, an apparatus for removing bricks of improper size from the conveyor comprising: a. sensing means for determining which bricks are to be removed including a light source providing a light path transverse to and intersecting the path of said bricks and a photoelectric means in said light path on the opposite side of said brick column; b. a kickoff mechanism responsive to a signal from said sensing means for removing selected bricks from said column without affecting the remaining bricks in said column, said kickoff mechanism including a lever pivotally mounted and selectively movable by an activating means in an arc defining a vertical plane generally perpendicular to and intersecting the brick path; c. said activating means delivering through said lever a sharp blow to the end of a selected brick, said lever being moved into the path of the brick column after the brick preceding said selected brick has passed and out of the path of said brick column before the brick next succeeding said selected brick arrives so as not to interfere with any of the bricks in said column except said selected brick.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said lever is so arranged that it strikes said selected bricks during the upswing of said arcuate path thereby imparting an upward and outward movement to said bricks being ejected.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said arcuate path of said lever is adjustable between an angle perpendicular to the longitudinal path of said conveyor and angles acute to the longitudinal path of the conveyor.
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) | 1975-05-30 | 1975-11-29 | 1976-05-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-30 | 1979-11-29 | 1980-05-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-30 | 1983-11-29 | 1984-05-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |