GB2052420A

GB2052420A - Apparatus for grouping green bricks

Info

Publication number: GB2052420A
Application number: GB8012064A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Hans Lingl Anlagenbau und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Hans Lingl Anlagenbau und Verfahrenstechnik GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1979-06-22
Filing date: 1980-04-11
Publication date: 1981-01-28
Also published as: AU5763680A; BE881356A; GB2052420B; NL8002153A; FR2459771A1; DE2925218B1

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for grouping green bricks supplied by a feeder, e.g. conveyor 2 to form rows containing a particular, for example different, number of bricks against an abutment disposed at a distance from means which act in response to the required row length being reached by preventing further bricks from moving into the row. A plurality of abutments 3 for green bricks are disposed on a conveyor 5, generally a chain conveyor, travelling slower than the feeder conveyor during grouping, the row length being determined by photocells which simultaneously control conveyor 5, to slow it down, and a clamp 7, to arrest following articles. A tip switch 8, actuated by the abutments, speeds up conveyor 5 again after formation of the group of bricks. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for grouping green bricks THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to an apparatus for forming closed-up rows of green bricks containing a particular, for example different, number of bricks in each row.

Grouping devices for forming rows of green bricks are necessary to feed automatic apparatus for building rows of flats from closed rows of green bricks, for instance, as disclosed by a previous Patent Application P 2831 485.4-24, rectangular stacks of bricks being so formed that the rows of bricks of a layer contain a predetermined number of green bricks, whereas the rows of the next layer have a predetermined different number of green bricks. Since the green bricks are usually dried bricks which are brittle and which break readily, the bricks must not strike one another with any great force while they are being grouped, because, if they do, there may well be damage, more particularly to the brick edges.

It is disclosed in United States Patent Specification No. 4,029,198 how one can form rows of green bricks in a predetermined length. In the apparatus described, the bricks are pushed by friction by a feeder onto a grid which extends, upwards inclined, through the feeder or conveyor so that closed rows of bricks are formed on the grid. The length of the row is detected by a first photocell. After the first brick of the row has operated the first photocell, further movement of the bricks following the row is prevented by clamp means and the grid is lowered so that the closed row is transferred to the conveyor and moved away from the collecting station.After the first brick of the row has actuated a second photocell, the same being disposed at the end of the grid, the clamped bricks are released for feeding so that they can be conveyed by way of the grid, but spaced apart, to the closed row leaving the same; then, after the release provided by the second photocell, the grid rises so that the cycle can be repeated.

A disadvantage of the system described in the said United States Patent Specification is that considerable friction must be overcome to push the bricks onto the grid by friction of the bricks with the feeder; consequently, the feeder rubs for a relatively long period of time below the bricks and the same move up jerkily when, as a result of varying friction on the grid, the resistance alters because of the bricks not being uniform. Another disadvantage is that the length of the row of bricks is not limited mechanically; consequently, when the activation ofthe photocell coincides with a running-on movement of the row, it becomes impossible to limit the length of the row accurately.

In another suggested apparatus, the bricks move to a fixed abutment which is released upon the desired row length being reached; simultaneously, the bricks following the row are clamped until the row has moved away from the collecting zone, to prevent the bricks from moving up. A disadvantage of this apparatus is that the collected bricks are stationary during collection; consequently, the bricks which are moving up strike the collected bricks at full speed and the severe impact often damages the edges of the bricks.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for grouping green bricks supplied by a feeder to form rows containing a particular, for example different, number of bricks against an abutment disposed at a distance from means which act in response to the required row length being reached by preventing further bricks from moving into the row, the abutment for green bricks being disposed on a conveyor rotable slower than the feeder during grouping and row length being determined bya photocell.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus in which the length of the row of bricks is determined accurately by mechanical iimitation.

Thus, the present invention enables the provision of a grouping device in which the green bricks are kept moving during grouping so that the difference between the speed of the grouped bricks and the speed of the bricks which are moving up is reduced and the bricks do not strike one another heavily. The present invention also enables the provision of an apparatus in which rows of green bricks of a predetermined but different length can be collected smoothly and with a high output.

The advantages which the invention can provide are more particularly that the green bricks collect against an abutment, whilst the abutment is moving in the direction of green brick movement, providing a deceleration of the speed of brick movement during the grouping step, so that the length of the row of bricks is subjected to a mechanical limitation which can be moved at any point for a changeover to a different row length, the relative speed between the grouped green bricks and the arriving bricks being adapted to such an extent that the bricks cannot strike one another heavily, so that damage is less ikelyto occur.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into practice, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the single Figure of the accompanying drawing, which shows a diagrammatical side view of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

Green bricks 1 are moved on a conveyor 2, which conveyor 2 is in the form of narrow chains, against abutments 3 which extend through the conveyor 2 and which move in the direction of conveyance thereof but more slowly than the conveyor 2 so that the intervals between the bricks 1 close up during the grouping step. The abutments 3 are disposed on a rotating chain conveyor 5. Disposed therebefore are clamp means 7 which operate after the required row length has been achieved - as determined by photocells 6, 6a -to prevent any more bricks from moving up.

Simultaneously with the actuation ofthe clamp means 7, the speed of the conveyor 5 is increased to a higher speed, which may be equal to or greater than the speed of the conveyor 2. Actuation of a limit switch 8 by disengaged abutments 3 results in the speed of the conveyor 5 reverting back to its lower speed and also opens the clamp means 7. The limit switch 8 is so positioned that the abutments 3 extending through the conveyor 2 are in a position to receive the next row 4 of bricks to be collected, when another set of abutments 3 operate the limit switch 8.

Claims

1. An apparatus for grouping green bricks supplied buy a feeder to form rows containing a particular, for example different, number of bricks against an abutment disposed at a distance from means which act in response to the required row length being reached by preventing further bricks from moving into the row, the abutment for green bricks being disposed on a conveyor rotabie slower than the feeder during grouping and row length being determined by a photocell.

2. An apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein means are provided whereby, after the desired number of green bricks are in the group, the conveyor is moved at a speed equal to or greater than the speed of the feeder.

3. An apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the means for preventing further bricks from moving into the row comprises clamping means.

4. An apparatus according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the abutments are provided on a chain con veyor and extend through a conveyor forming the feeder.

5. An apparatus for grouping green bricks, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.

6. Any novel feature or combination offeatures described herein.