US3776398A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Brick regrouping apparatus
Assignee: Forrest Paschal Machinery Co
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Filing: 1972-07-28
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Granted: 1973-12-04
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Expires: 1992-07-28
Abstract
Abstract Bricks arranged in a plurality of stacks on kiln cars in doublelayer courses having a prescribed number of bricks in each row and column are first transferred to an intermediate table by means of a first, side gripper pickup head. The side gripper pickup head includes several pair of gripper members which grip the bricks at the ends of the rows thereof and compact the rows in preparation for the first head to lift and transfer the bricks to the intermediate table. A second, end gripper pickup head includes several pairs of gripper segments, movable with respect to each other, to grip the bricks at the ends of the columns, lift and adjust the row-wise spacing therein to arrange the bricks into courses having a different number of bricks in the rows thereof than the courses on the kiln cars. The second pickup head then transfers the bricks held therein to an off-bearing conveyor leading to a stacking and strapping station.
Inventors
- 👤 G Stuart
- 👤 F Paschal
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:32
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G59/00; B65G59/02; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for removing brick from a kiln car arranged in courses of one prescribed size and forming courses of a second prescribed size in preparation for a stacking and strapping operation, wherein the bricks are initially positioned on the kiln car in a plurality of stacks, each stack including a plurality of double-layer courses and each course made up of a plurality of rows and columns, the bricks in each row having spaces therebetween, said apparatus comprising the combination of: a. a receiving station, an intermediate table and a discharge station; b. a first pickup head mounted for reciprocal, horizontal movement between a first position at said receiving station and a second position at said intermediate table, said first pickup head including a first gripping means associated therewith for transferring the uppermost course from each of a prescribed number of stacks to said intermediate table; c. a second pickup head mounted for reciprocal movement between a first position at said intermediate station and a second position at said discharge station, said second pickup head including a second gripping means associated therewith for lifting said courses deposited on said intermediate table and regrouping said courses into said second prescribed size.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
199 words
Apparatus for removing brick from a kiln car arranged in courses of one prescribed size and forming courses of a second prescribed size in preparation for a stacking and strapping operation, wherein the bricks are initially positioned on the kiln car in a plurality of stacks, each stack including a plurality of double-layer courses and each course made up of a plurality of rows and columns, the bricks in each row having spaces therebetween, said apparatus comprising the combination of: a. a receiving station, an intermediate table and a discharge station; b. a first pickup head mounted for reciprocal, horizontal movement between a first position at said receiving station and a second position at said intermediate table, said first pickup head including a first gripping means associated therewith for transferring the uppermost course from each of a prescribed number of stacks to said intermediate table; c. a second pickup head mounted for reciprocal movement between a first position at said intermediate station and a second position at said discharge station, said second pickup head including a second gripping means associated therewith for lifting said courses deposited on said intermediate table and regrouping said courses into said second prescribed size.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further including a horizontal frame overlying said receiving station, said intermediate table and said discharge station; a carriage mounted for reciprocal movement along said frame, said first and second pickup heads mounted on said carriage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first gripping means includes a plurality of gripper pairs, each of said gripper pairs at said first position being engageable with opposite ends of the rows in one of said courses to close said spaces prior to the transfer thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein successive courses on said kiln car have the headers facing perpendicular to the headers of the preceding course and further including means associated with said first gripping means for rotating alternate courses 90* in a horizontal plane whereby all courses are placed on said intermediate table with the headers facing in the same direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said second gripping means in its first position is positioned adjacent and selectively engageable with the ends of the columns of said courses.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said second pickup head includes a pair of side frame members and said second gripping means comprises a plurality of segmented gripper pairs slidably mounted on said side frame members for relative movement with respect to each other in a row-wise direction, and an activating means for selectively moving at least some of said segmented gripper pairs in a row-wise direction with respect to others.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said activating means includes a plurality of air cylinders, the cylinder portion of said air cylinders being stationarily connected to said second pickup head and the piston of each air cylinder being connected to one of said gripper pairs, other of said gripper pairs not connected with any of said air cylinders, whereby the distance between gripper pairs may be selectively varied in response to said air cylinders.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3656635A
Cited
US3669283A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-12-03 | 1977-06-04 | 1977-12-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-03 | 1981-06-04 | 1981-12-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-03 | 1985-06-04 | 1985-12-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |