GB2098955A

GB2098955A - A method of and an apparatus for positioning green bricks

Info

Publication number: GB2098955A
Application number: GB8212805A
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: 1981-05-22
Filing date: 1982-05-04
Publication date: 1982-12-01
Also published as: NL8201318A; FR2506274B1; GB2098955B; FR2506274A1

Abstract

An apparatus for positioning green bricks (3) as they leave the cutter (6) comprises bearing surfaces (2a) and (2b) having respective separate drive means (5a) and (5b). The green bricks (3) are conveyed by the surfaces (2a) and (2b) and formed into two rows (A) and (B), thereby exposing the cut surfaces (9) of the bricks (3). The bricks (3) are then gripped by the cut surfaces (9) using a gripper device and transferred to supports (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A method of and an apparatus for positioning green bricks.

This invention relates to a method of and an apparatus for positioning green bricks and, in particular, to a method of and an apparatus for positioning large format green bricks after they leave the cutter.

West German Patentschrift No. 2 612 839 describes a device for forming ceramic green bricks and conveying the same onto supports, which device comprises a multiwire cutter, a first conveyor belt for conveying a column cut from a strand of extruded material through the cutter to form a row of green bricks, a second or downstream conveyor belt which is spaced from the first conveyor belt for placing the bricks on the supports, a gripper device disposed above the second conveyor belt, the gripper device being movable both horizontally and vertically, a roller conveyor bridging the space between the first and second conveyor belts and a spreader device which is vertically movable and has bearing surfaces which extend through the roller conveyor and are above the rollers when raised and below the rollers when lowered.

West German Auslegeschrift No. 1 683 938 describes a device comprising a multiwire cutter for dividing a column cut from a strand of extruded ceramic material into brick lengths and a pusher device for pushing the bricks on to a spreader device. The spreader device comprises a number of rotating belts borne by a carriage sliding on a vertically movable frame, the belts engaging the spaces between the rollers and, when raised above the rollers, rotating in the opposite direction to, but at a higher speed than, the engagement movement.

A disadvantage of the devices described above is that horizontal coring blocks, cavity bricks and, more particularly, large-format insulating bricks may be damaged or even destroyed during conveyance on the rollers of the spreader device because of its squeezing effect and because the green bricks only have linear support in the direction of extrusion, have little stability when wet and cannot be uniformly loaded on account of the webs and cavities at an angle to the strand direction.

United States Patent Specification No. 3 478 397 discloses another device comprising a multi-wire cutter by means of which a column cut from a strand of extruded ceramic material is divided into slugs and is pushed on to spreader device, the support surface of the spreader device comprising slats having a width equal to the cut. After being filled with continuous rows of slugs, the slats are moved so as to produce spaces between the slugs for inserting a transfer gripper. After being thus positioned, the layers of bricks are rotated 900 to one another and placed on kiln cars. Alternatively, the layers of green bricks may be deposited on other conveying means such as slats or pallets.

A disadvantage of the device described in United States Patent Specification No 3 478 397 is that the slugs have to be pushed onto the spreader device, because the spreader device does not have a conveying action. Fragile hollow products or large format insulating bricks may not have sufficient stability at an angle to the extrusion direction and may be deformed or destroyed by the pusher.

Another disadvantage common to all three of the devices described above is that the separation of the bricks for gripping and/or transferring on to support surfaces occurs as a separate step, which is time-consuming and requires additional apparatus.

It is an object of the present invention to enable the provision of a method of and an apparatus for positioning green bricks, whereby the above disadvantages may be overcome, or at least mitigated.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of positioning green bricks, which method comprises conveying bricks of a continuous row of green bricks transversely of the row so as to form at least two rows of bricks extending transversely of the direction of conveyance, whereby the bricks are spaced apart.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for positioning green bricks, which apparatus comprises a plurality of conveying means four conveying bricks of a continuous row of green bricks transversely of the row, each of the plurality of conveying means being adapted to convey one brick of the said continuous row and the arrangement being such that, in use, at least two rows of bricks are formed which extend transversely of the direction of conveyance of the conveying means, whereby the bricks are spaced apart.

Thus, the present invention enables the provision of a method of and an apparatus for positioning green bricks, and in particular largeformat bricks after they leave the cutter, whereby the bricks are so conveyed, and supported during conveyance at an angle to the extrusion direction, and simultaneously spaced apart, that damage to and deformation of the bricks is reduced. After being so positioned, the bricks may be gripped at their cut surfaces by a transfer gripper.

The present invention further enables the provision of a method of and an apparatus for positioning green bricks, and in particular largeformat bricks, whereby the green bricks may be positioned and separated in a single step during conveyance from the cutter so as to present their cut surfaces for gripping.

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be put into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of a first apparatus in accordance with the invention, Figure 2 shows a partial plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows a partial plan view of a second apparatus in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 and 2 of the drawings, a column 11 cut from a strand of extruded ceramic material is conveyed through a vertically acting multi-wire cutter 6 by means of a conveyor 7 in order to obtain a row 4 of green bricks 3. A spreader device 1, onto which the green bricks 3 are conveyed by the conveyor 7, comprises a plurality of bearing surfaces 2a, 2b, each having a width equal to that of a green brick 3 and comprising one or more conveyor belts.

Alternate bearing surfaces 2a or 2b have a common drive means 5a or 5b so that alternate green bricks 3 are conveyed in a row A or a row B.

The drive means 5a and 5b are programmed so that when conveyance stops the rows A and B are one behind the other in the conveying direction.

Thus, the cut edges 9 of the bricks 3 are exposed.

A gripper device 8 is disposed above the spreader device 1 and is horizontally and vertically movable. In use, the gripper device 8 grips the bricks 3 by the cut surfaces 9, lifts the bricks 3 from the spreader device 1 and transfers them onto conveying supports 10. The gripper device 8 may also rotate each brick 3 through 900 in the horizontal plane during the transfer operation.

Referring now to Figure 3 of the drawings, the apparatus illustrated is similar in construction and operation to that described above with reference to Figures 1 and 2, but further comprises a pusher device 12 which engages, in use, bricks 3 which have been positioned in row B and pushes them transversely of the conveying direction of the spreader device 1 so that bricks 3 of the rows A and B are aligned directly behind each other in the conveying direction. The gripper device 8 is located downstream of the pusher device 12 and is adapted to engage the cut surfaces 9 of two bricks 3 simultaneously, lift the bricks 3 off the spreader device 1, rotate the bricks 3 through 900 in the horizontal plane and transfer them onto the conveying support 10.

Claims

1. A method of positioning green bricks, which method comprises conveying bricks of a continuous row of green bricks transversely of the row so as to form at least two rows of bricks extending transversely of the direction of conveyance, whereby the bricks are spaced apart.

2. A method according to claim 1, which further comprises pushing bricks transversely of the direction of conveyance so as to form at least two columns of bricks extending in the direction of conveyance.

3. A method according to Claim 1 or 2, which further comprises rotating each brick through 900 in a horizontal plane by utilising gripper means.

4. Apparatus for positioning green bricks, which apparatus comprises a plurality of conveying means of conveying bricks of a continuous row of green bricks transversely of the row, each of the plurality of conveying means being adapted to convey one brick of the said continuous row and the arrangement being such that, in use, at least two rows of bricks are formed which extend transversely of the direction of conveyance of the conveying means, whereby the bricks are spaced apart.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, which further comprises means for pushing bricks transversely of the said direction of conveyance.

6. Apparatus according to Claim 4 or 5, which further comprises gripper means for use in rotating a brick through 900 in a horizontal plane.

7. A method of positioning green bricks, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

8. A method of positioning green bricks, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

9. Apparatus for positioning green bricks, substantiaily as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

1 0. Apparatus for positioning green bricks, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to, and as shown in, Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

11. Any novel feature or combination of features described herein.