US3876057A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for arranging bricks to be fed in a predetermined number of rows
Assignee: ARTECH A CORP OF
•
Filing: 1974-01-29
•
Granted: 1975-04-08
•
Expires: 1994-01-29
Abstract
Abstract Brick groups each containing the same predetermined number of rows are fed by individual pusher members along a horizontal path. When certain groups of bricks reach a transfer station intermediate the ends of said path, the entire group is pushed laterally to one side of the path on a storage platform. A predetermined number of rows on the storage platform are then moved longitudinally alongside the path and subsequently returned laterally onto the path to be united with subsequent groups of bricks to form a predetermined number of rows of bricks suitable for feeding into the trays of a conveyor at the outlet end of the path to be taken to a further stacking station where the bricks are ultimately stacked to form a brick pack. When the brick pusher members reach the transfer platform, they are lowered by means of an elevator and returned to the inlet of the path where they are raised by another elevator to commence further movement along the path to push another group of bricks to the transfer station. From the transfer station the brick groups are conveyed to the outlet of the path to be fed into the trays by means of overhead pusher members which descend to simultaneously push the two furthermost brick groups on the path towards the tray conveyor. Another pusher member movable alongside the path is employed to convey the predetermined number of brick rows from the storage platform down the path from the transfer station where another pusher member is positioned to restore these rows to the path to be joined with one of the brick groups to form a brick group having a predetermined number of rows suitable for feeding into the tray conveyor.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert E Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 05:21
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G49/00; B65G49/05; B65G49/08; B65G47/00; B65G47/22; B65G47/26; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of handling bricks to arrange them in a predetermined number of rows comprising the steps of: successively conveying to and beyond a transfer station a plurality of brick groups each including a plurality of rows of bricks, periodically removing certain brick groups at the transfer station in their entirety to a storage area, removing a number of the bricks from the storage area and adding them to brick groups conveyed to and beyond the transfer station subsequent to the brick group which was removed to the storage area.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of handling bricks to arrange them in a predetermined number of rows comprising the steps of: successively conveying to and beyond a transfer station a plurality of brick groups each including a plurality of rows of bricks, periodically removing certain brick groups at the transfer station in their entirety to a storage area, removing a number of the bricks from the storage area and adding them to brick groups conveyed to and beyond the transfer station subsequent to the brick group which was removed to the storage area.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein at least one row of bricks is removed from the storage area and added to a brick group subsequently conveyed to and beyond the transfer station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method defined in claim 2 wherein each of the brick groups has ten rows of bricks such that after the row of bricks from the storage area is added to one of the subsequent brick groups, the subsequent brick group will have eleven rows of bricks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the bricks removed from the storage area are added to a subsequent brick group at a location beyond the transfer station.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method defined in claim 4 wherein brick groups are conveyed to and beyond the transfer station along a fixed path, and wherein the bricks removed from the storage area are moved alongside said path to a point downpath from the transfer station where they are then returned to the path to join a succeeding brick group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method defined in claim 1 wherein the brick groups are conveyed to the transfer station by means of individual pusher members movable along a fixed path, and wherein the brick groups are moved from the transfer station beyond the transfer station by means other than the pusher members.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for handling bricks to arrange them in a predetermined number of rows, the apparatus comprising in combination, means for conveying individual brick groups each having a predetermined number of rows along a fixed path, a storage area situated on one side of the path intermediate the ends thereof, means for moving certain brick groups from the path to the storage area while maintaining the brick groups in the same arrangement of rows, and means for successively adding to the subsequent brick groups conveyed along the path a number of rows from the bricks on the storage area to increase the number of rows in the subsequent brick groups.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus for handling bricks to arrange them in a predetermined number of rows, the apparatus comprising in combination, means for conveying individual brick groups each having a predetermined number of rows along a fixed path, a storage area situated on one side of the path intermediate the ends thereof, means for moving certain brick groups from the path to the storage area while maintaining the brick groups in the same arrangement of rows, and means for successively adding to the subsequent brick groups conveyed along the path a number of rows from the bricks on the storage area to increase the number of rows in the subsequent brick groups.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said means for returning bricks from the storage area to the path includes first means for moving the number of rows down the path and second means for moving the number of rows laterally on the path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus defined in claim 7 including a stop member situated between the path and the storage area and wherein there is further included means for moving the bricks on the storage area against the stop member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus defined in claim 7 wherein said means for moving the brick groups to the storage area includes a pusher member movable transversely across the path and wherein the means for returning the number of rows to the path includes a pusher member movable towards the path transversely thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus defined in claim 7 further including a pusher member situated on the storage area for receiving the bricks moved from the path to the storage area, said pusher member being movable towards the path to position the bricks on the storage area in a predetermined position.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
69 words
Apparatus defined in claim 7 including a transfer station on the path intermediate the ends thereof, said bricks being removed to the storage area from the transfer station, and wherein said means for moving the brick groups along the path includes a first means for moving the brick groups to the transfer station and a second means for moving the bricks groups beyond the transfer station along the path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein said first means for moving the brick groups along the path to the transfer station include a plurality of individual pusher members respectively, operable on individual brick groups to push them along the path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus defined in claim 13 further including means for lowering the individual pusher members when they reach the transfer station and for returning the individual pusher members to the inlet of the path to resume pushing of brick groups along the path.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus defined in claim 12 further including an elongated guide member extending in the direction of the path and being located the transfer station for guiding brick groups as they pass through the transfer station along the path.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
Apparatus defined in claim 12 wherein there is further included a pair of brick pushers operable over the path to push two brick groups situated at the transfer station and beyond the transfer station in a direction down the path for discharge from the path.
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) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |