GB2042460A - Mobile apparatus for stacking blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

Automatic mobile apparatus for stacking blocks includes a wheeled body 10 on which is mounted a first lifting assembly 22, 24 for lifting a plurality of blocks from the ground where they have been laid in spaced relationship in a predetermined pattern by a block laying device and placing the blocks in rows on a conveyor 16 of the body which then brings the blocks in each row into abutting relationship prior to a further lifting assembly 50, 54 lifting blocks from each row and stacking these blocks, the further lifting assembly displacing each layer of blocks in the stack by 90 DEG relative to the neighbouring layer(s) to give the stack a stable configuration. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Mobile apparatus for stacking blocks This invention relates to apparatus for stacking blocks of material in a stable configuration, and is particularly concerned with stacking, in a stable cubic configuration, concrete blocks which, when cast are placed in parallel rows on the ground by a conventional block laying machine to allow the concrete to cure.

Lifting and stacking of such laid out concrete blocks by means of, for example, fork lift trucks, is extremely time consuming and it is difficult for the operator of a fork lift truck to stack the blocks in a cubic arrangement of the required stability.

The present invention provides an automatic mobile apparatus for stacking blocks in a cubic arrangement.

According to the present invention there is provided apparatus for stacking blocks in a stable configuration, said apparatus comprising a body having conveyor means, means for moving said body over the ground, at least one lift assembly movably mounted on said body for movement thereon in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor means and including a gripper arrangement for engaging with and lifting blocks, on to the conveyor means, and the or another lift assembly being movably mounted on said main body for movement thereon in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the conveyor means and having a gripper arrangement rotatable through 90 relative to the lift assembly for stacking blocks after removal thereof from the conveyor means.

Preferably two lift assemblies are provided; each may be separately movable relative to the body or both may be movable together relative to the body.

Preferably both lift assemblies have their gripper arrangement rotatable through 90' relative to the lifting arm.

Each gripper arrangement may comprise a framework, a pair of plate members extending downwardly from the frame-work at spaced apart locations and a centre plate extending downwardly from the support framework substantially centrally of the plate members such that the gripper arrangement can engage with a plurality of blocks of material from each of two opposed sides thereof, the plate members being movable relative to the centre plate to clamp the blocks of material thereagainst.

Each plate member may comprise a backing plate with inwardly extending resilient abut ment members and the means for moving the plate members may comprise an hydraulic ram fixed therebetween.

The gripper arrangment for stacking blocks preferably includes a frame to slideably sup port the centre plate and said framework is dimensioned and shaped such that it may surround a stack of blocks whereby the gripper arrangement may be lowered over a stack of blocks until its plate members are engageable with the lowest layer of blocks, the centre plate having slid upwardly relative to said frame.

The means for rotating each gripper arrangement relative to its lifting arm may comprise an hydraulic ram fixed at one end to the lift assembly and at its other end to a member fixed to a central pivot for the gripper arrangement. Alternatively the means for rotating a gripper arrangement may comprise a chain or the like attached to said framework which is rotatably mounted on a circular track mounted on the lift assembly, said chain or the like being drivable by a motor to cause rotation of the framework relative to the track.

The lift assemblies may include hydraulic rams to provide the lifting and lowering movement thereof.

Linkages may be provided in association with the lift assemblies to ensure the associated gripper arrangement remains in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the conveyor means in all positions of the lift assembly.

The conveyor means may comprise a walking beam assembly the movement of which is controlled so as to restrict movement of the blocks of material to that necessary to take up the spacing between individual blocks which is inherent in the operation of a block laying machine. Alternatively the conveyor means may comprise a slatted endless conveyor adapted for intermittent movement.

Control means may be provided to control simultaneous automatic movement of the lift assemblies gripper arrangements and conveyor means.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mobile block stacking apparatus; Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1 with parts removed for clarity; Figure 3 is a side elevation of a gripper arrangement; Figure 4 is a plan of the gripper arrangement; and Figure 5 is a sectional end elevation of the gripper arrangement showing also a support frame therefor taken on the line A-A of Fig.

3.

Referring to the drawi is automatic mobile apparatus for stacking c crete blocks in a stable configuration comprises a main body 10 of substantially rectangular configuration and mounting a pair of spaced apart ground engaging wheels 1 2 laterally outwardly of the body at each end. The wheels 1 2 are ar ranged to be driven and steered in any con ventional manner by a suitable engine and steering assembly (not shown) mounted on the body 10, a cab 14 being provided for the operator of the apparatus at one end of the body 10.

The body 10 mounts a longitudinally extending endless slatted conveyor 1 6 whose upper flight is arranged above the top of the body 10 and is sufficiently wide to receive two rows of blocks 1 8 arranged in side-byside relationship with a space between the rows.

A carriage 20 straddles and is movably mounted on the body 10 at each side thereof by means of rollers (not shown) rolling in tracks provided on the body 1 0. The carriage 20 pivotally mounts a first lift assembly comprising a pair of cranked lifting arms 22 and a gripper arrangement 24. The pair of arms 22 are connected together by a horizontally extending member 26 about the axis of which the gripper arrangement may pivot such that it remains substantially horizontal at all times.

The gripper arrangement 24 is mounted on a shaft 28 whic in turn is centrally rotatably mounted on tle member 26. An hydraulic ram 30 extends between each arm 24 and the carriage 20, and operation of the rams 30 controls movement of the lifting assembly between the lowermost position shown in Fig.

1 and an uppermost position in which the lower sides of blocks held in the gripper arrangement are spaced above the plane of the top flight of the conveyor 1 6. Movement of the carriage 20 on the body 10 is controlled by hydraulic rams (not shown) extending longitudinally of the body 10.

The gripper arrangement 24 comprises a support framework having three main frame members 32 extending parallel to one another, the centre member being fixedly mounted at the lower end of the shaft 28 and the other members being equi-spaced to either side of the centre member on cross members 34. Extending downwardly from each of the outer frame members is a pivotally mounted plate 36 which forms a backing for inwardly extending resilient abutments 38 preferably formed of rubber. An hydraulic ram (not shown) extending parallel to the members 34 causes relative inwards and outwards movement of the plate 36. The central frame member has a downwardly extending divider plate 40 for a purpose hereinafter described.

To enable rotation of the gripper arrangement 24 relative to the arms 22 an hydraulic ram (not shown) is connected between the assem bly and the arms in such a manner that extension and retraction thereof causes rotation of the gripper assembly in opposite directions through 90 .

The carriage 20 supports also another lift assembly extending from the carriage in the direction opposite to that which the aforementioned lift assembly extends and including a pair of arms 50 pivotally mounted at one end to parts 52 upstanding from the carriage 20.

A gripper arrangement 54 is mounted at the end of the arms 50 and includes supports 56 to which is fixed a circular track 58. A parallel linkage 61, 63, 65 is connected between the carriage 20 and the support 56 to ensure that the track 58 lies in a plane parallel to the plane of the top flight of the conveyor 1 6 at all positions of the arms 50.

The construction of the gripper arrangement 54 can be seen in Figs. 3 to 5. The track 58 supports, by way of four flanged wheels 62 a square sub-frame 60 such that the sub-frame can be rotated relative to the frame, rotation being achieved by means of an hydraulic motor 64 having a sprocket 66 which drives a chain 68 extending around and fixed to a further track 67 attached to square sub-frame 60.

The sub-frame 60 supports a guide frame 70 (not shown in full in Fig. 3) in which is slideably mounted for vertical movement relative to the frame 70 a divider member or centre block abutment plate 74. Two outer block abutment plates 72 are mounted pivotally on the sub-frame parallel to the centre plate 74 and an hydraulic ram 76 is mounted between the outer plates to cause relative pivotal movement thereof towards and away from the centre plate. A bottom stop 78 is provided on the frame 70 to limit downward movement of plate 74.

A telescopically mounted platform 80 is mounted on the underside of the body 10 such that in the extended position it projects beyond one end of the body, the width of the platform being greater than the length of two blocks.

When concrete blocks are manufactured by an automatic block casting machine they are laid on the ground to harden and cure in face to face relationship, with a relatively small spacing between facing faces, in groups; a plurality of groups being laid with the blocks of one group aligned and in end-to-end relationship with the blocks of a neighbouring group, the spacing between groups being greater than that between individual blocks of the group.

Three outer blocks 18' of the endmost groups of a series of groups shown in Fig. 1 and the apparatus is positioned under its own power and by use of its wheels 1 2 at the end of the line of groups, said line extending towards the right in Fig. 1.

It is desirable to stack the blocks to form a stable cube C similar to that shown in Fig. 1 and this is achieved by lowering the arms 22 such that the plates 36, 40 are inserted in the spaces between the two endmost groups and at the end of the line. Actuation of the hy draulic ram of the gripper arrangement 24 causes the outer plates 36 to move inwardly towards centre or divider plate 40 and the groups of blocks are forced against the centre plate 40 where they are held while the arms 22 are lifted, carrying the two groups of blocks with them. As the arms lift the gripper arrangement is rotated by its other hydraulic ram through 90 and the carriage 20 is moved along the body towards the other end thereof.When the blocks are positioned over the conveyor 1 6 the outer plates 36 are moved outwardly to release the blocks on to the conveyor which then carries them towards the said other end of the body until they abut a step 82 or other blocks 18" which had previously been laid on the conveyor. Movement of the conveyor continues to close up the spacing between blocks which thus lie on the conveyor in face-to-face relationship in two spaced apart rows.

It will be realised that the other gripper arrangement 54 carried by the lift arms 50 operates in timed relationship with the arrangement 24 and as arrangement 24 is lifting blocks from the ground arrangement 54 is lifting blocks from the other end of the conveyor. The manner of lifting blocks by the arrangement 54 is similar to that of arrangement 24 in that it employs a centre plate 74 against which blocks are forced by movement of outer plates 72.The plates in their initial picking-up position are arranged with the centre plate 74 in the space between the two rows of blocks on the conveyor and as the arms 50 lift and the carriage moves towards the stack C, on each alternate journey the motor 64 is actuated to rotate the arrangement 54 through 90 , this resulting in a stack of stable configuration with the blocks of one layer being orientated at 90 to the blocks of the neighbouring layer(s).

The arrangement 54 builds up the stack C on the platform 80 as the apparatus moves along the line of groups, i.e. to the right in Figs. 1 and 2 and when a stack is completed the arms 50 lower the arrangement 54, which has been placed over the block, until the outer plates 72 are alongside the bottom layer, the sub-frame 60 surrounding the stack.

This is possible due to the sliding mounting of plate 74 in frame 70 and the plate moves "up" the frame as the arms 50 lower the arrangement 54. The ram 76 is thus actuated to cause plates 72 to grip the bottom layer and lift the cube of blocks just clear of the platform 80 which is retracted until it clears the stack at which time the arms 60 can lower the stack to the ground where it is released by the plates 72.

Control gear may be provided such that the operation of the various rams is automatic and it will be realised that as the arrangement 24 lifts more blocks in a layer than the arrangement 54 picks up in one operation, the control gear is programmed such that intermittently the arrangement 24 does not function.

Various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. In one modi fication two carriages are provided, each sup porting a lift arrangement. The slatted con veyor may be replaced by a "walking beam" arrangement comprising a series of spaced fixed beams and a series of movable beams arranged therebetween, the movable beams moving up between the fixed beams to sup port blocks thereon and carrying them over the fixed beams before again depositing the blocks thereon. In a simpler apparatus only one lift assembly for picking up and stacking blocks may be provided. Alternative means could be provided for gripping the blocks and for moving the apparatus over the ground.

The stack holding platform may be dispensed with.

Claims (19)

1. An automatic mobile apparatus for stacking blocks in a cubic arrangement.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, com prising a body having conveyor means, means for moving said body over the ground, at least one lift assembly movably mounted on said body for movement thereon in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of move ment of the conveyor means and including a gripper arrangement for engaging with and lifting blocks, on to the conveyor means, and the or another lift assembly being movably mounted on said main body for movement thereon in a direction substantially parallel to I the direction of movement of the conveyor means and having a gripper arrangement rota table through 90 relative to the lift assembly for stacking blocks after removal thereof from the conveyor means.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which two lift assemblies are provided.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which each lift assembly is movable relative to the body.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which both lift assemblies are movable to gether relative to the body.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, in which both lift assemblies have their gripper arrangement rotatable through 90 relative to the lifting arm.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 6, in which each gripper arrange ment comprises a framework, a pair of plate members extending downwardly from the framework at spaced apart locations and a centre plate extending downwardly from the support framework substantially centrally.of the plate members such that the gripper ar rangement can engage with a plurality of blocks of material from each of two opposed sides thereof, the plate members being mov able relative to the centre plate to clamp the blocks of material thereagainst.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which each plate member comprises a backing plate with inwardly extending resilient abutment members.

9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 or 8, in which the means for moving the plate members comprises an hydraulic ram fixed therebetween.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, in which the gripper arrangement for stacking blocks includes a frame to slideably support the centre plate and said framework is dimensioned and shaped such that it may surround a stack of blocks whereby the gripper arrangement may be lowered over a stack of blocks until its plate members are engageable with the lowest layer of blocks, the centre plate having slid upwardly relative to said frame.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 9, in which the means for rotating each gripper arrangement relative to its lifting arm comprises an hydraulic ram fixed at one end to the lift assembly and at its other end to a member fixed to a central pivot for the gripper arran. 3ment.

1 2. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 10, in which the means for rotating a gripper arrangement comprises a chain or the like attached to said framework which is rotatably mounted on a circular track mounted on the lift assembly, said chain or the like being drivable by a motor to cause rotation of the framework relative to the track.

1 3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 12, in which the lift assemblies include hydraulic rams to provide the lifting and lowering movement thereof.

14. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 1 2 in which linkages are provided in association with the lift assemblies to ensure the associated gripper arrangement remains in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the conveyor means in all positions of the lift assembly.

1 5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 14, in which the conveyor means comprises a walking beam assembly the movement of which is controlled so as to restrict movement of the blocks of material to that necessary to take up the spacing between individual blocks which is inherent in the operation of a block laying machine.

1 6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 14, in which the conveyor means comprises a slatted endless conveyor adapted for intermittent movement.

1 7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 16, in which control means are provided to control simultaneous automatic movement of the lift assemblies gripper arrangements and conveyor means.

1 8. Apparatus for stacking blocks in a stable configuration substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

19. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.