US2553481A

US2553481A - Facing machine

Info

Publication number: US2553481A
Application number: US780863A
Authority: US
Inventors: Sharples Arthur George
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-10-31
Filing date: 1947-10-20
Publication date: 1951-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1968-05-15

Description

May 15, 1951 A. G. SHARPLES FACING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 20, 1947 Ari/Z10" G Li /41 y 1951 A. G. SHARPLES 2,553,481

FACING MACHINE After/7 ez May 15, 1951 SHARPLES 2,553,481

FACING MACHINE Filed Oct. 20, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet s.

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s 53 wiufa Jim 1Z After/76g Patented May 15, 1951 FACING MACHINE Arthur George Sharples, Barnston, Wirral, England Application October 20, 1947, Serial No. 780,863 In Great Britain October 31, 1946 13 Claims.

This invention is for improvements in or relating to machines for applying a facing (e. g. of cement or plaster) to building blocks, bricks or the like. The invention is particularly applicable to a machine for applying a plaster-equivalent facing to fired clay bricks or blocks and more particularly hollow fired clay blocks. This precast facing renders the in situ plastering or like treatment of a wall constructed of such bricks or blocks non-essential or at least reduces considerably the amount of finishing treatment which has to be done on a wall prior to, for example, the application of a decorative coating thereto.

The invention will be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings whereon:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of the machine,

Figure 2 is a plan view, I

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line III-III of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a cross section on the line IVIV of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is a cross section on the line V-V of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a semi-diagrammatic detail view showing an arrangement of the driving mechanism for a part of the block conveying means of the machine,

Figure 7 shows, very diagrammatically, an

alternative arrangement for operating a knife automatically to sever the facing of one block from that of its neighbouring block as they pass through the machine,

Figure 8 is a cross-section on the line VIII VIII of Figure '7, and

Figure 9 is a cross-section on the line IXIX of Figure 7.

The machine shown on the drawings comprises a supporting frame II] which may be fabricated from channel section girders or the like. This frame work supports a conveying means for the blocks, indicated by the reference letter B, a hopper II for the facing material, a spreading and packing means for applying the facing material to the blocks, this spreading and packing means being located in the lower part of the hopper and indicated generally by the reference numeral I2, and a roller feeding mechanism indicated generally at I3 which co-operates with a part of the conveyor mechanism to convey the blocks through the actual facing portion of the machine.

The conveyor mechanism comprises a conveyor belt I4 at the input end of the machine, a chain conveyor I5 which actually carries the blocks through the facing portion proper of the machine and a further belt conveyor I6 at the output end of the machine. The belts I4 and I6 are supported on rollers I'I journal ed in bearings in the machine frame. Guide rails I8 and I9 engage the sides of the blocks B and serve to guide them through the machine from one end thereof to the other. The belt I4 runs on and is driven by a pulley wheel 20 mounted on a driving shaft 2|, the opposite end of the belt (not shown) running on another pulley. Conveniently the speed of the pulley driving the belt I4 is I! revolutions per minute. v

The chains 2210f the chain conveyor I5 are supported on rails 23 (see Figure 3) and'this chain conveyor is mounted on anddriven by chain or sprocket wheels 24 supported concentrically with and on the shaft 2| carrying the pulley 20, but the driving arrangement is such that the wheels 24 are driven at a somewhat slower speed than the pulley 20, a convenient speed for the chain driving wheels being I4 revolutions per minute where the pulley wheel 20 runs at I I revolutions per minute as previously specified. The chain wheels 24a supporting the chains 22 at the ends thereof remote from the pu ley 20 are mounted on or fixed on a shaft 25 and this shaft also carries a pulley wheel 26 for supporting and driving the conveyor belt I6. The driving arrangement is such that the conveyor belt I6 is driven at a greater speed than the chains 22. Conveniently, the pulley 26 has a speed of 28 revolutions per minute where the chain wheels 24 are driven at I4 revolutions per minute as previously specified.

The hopper I I together with the spreading and packing means for the facing material is supported on a carrier or sub-frame '21 (see more particularly Figure 4) This sub-frame is carried from the main frame Ill by means of bolts 28 which permit the sub-frame and the hopper and other parts carried thereby to be adjusted towards and away from the conveyor chain mechanism I5 so that the machine can be adjusted to face blocks of varying thicknesses.

The spreading and packing means 26 in the lower part of the hopper comprise an agitator 29 for keeping the material running freely on to the blocks, this agitator being mounted on a driving shaft 30, a pack roller 3| fixed on a, driving shaft 32 and a finishing knife or screed member 33. The knife or screed 33 serves to level off anyslight irregularities in the facing on the blocks and is adjustable towards and away from the blocks and for this purpose is adjustably mounted by means of bolts 34 on brackets 35 on the sub-frame 21.

The feeding roller mechanism I3 comprises two rollers proper 36 (see Figure having a work ing surface of friction material. The roller is mounted on a shaft 31 supported in bearings 38 on arms 39. The arms 39 are pivotally supported on a shaft 40 journalled in bearings on the frame of the machine. The rollers 36 are urged into engagement with the blocks by means of adjustable spring devices 4|. 36 is driven by means of pulley wheels 42 and 43 and a belt or chain 44 from the shaft 4'3 which is a driven shaft. This driving arrangement permits the rollers to pivot about the shaft 4!], under the action of the springs 41, as previously described. i

At or near the extreme output end of the machine, spring-loaded scrapers 45 are provided for removing any surplus facing material from the edges of the blocks. 'There is; of course, a further pulley wheel at this end of the machine for supporting the end of the conveyor belt l6 remote from the pulley wheel 26.

An adjustable upper guide rail 45 is mounted above the portion of the chain conveyor l5 im- :of the differential driving mechanism for the belt l4 and conveyor chain 22. In this arrange- -ment the'chain wheels 24 are secured on the --driving shaft 2| but two. pulleys 20a and 2% carrying the belt I4 are mounted on a sleeve 20c freely rotatable on the shaft. 2|. A sprocket wheel 2601 is fixed on the sleeve 20c and is accommodated in the space made available between the two pulley wheels 20a, and 29b. The sprocket wheel 26d and thereby the pulley wheels ma and 20b is driven by a chain 20c from the driving shaft 207. The driving shaft 20f is driven from a suitable source of power by a chain and chain wheel mechanism 269. A slipping clutch device 20h may be provided'between the drive 20g'and the shaft 20 to prevent damage should any of the blocks become jammed in the machine. 7 It will beappreciated that the speeds of rotation for the conveyor belts !4 and I6 and chain l5 are only given by way of example, the main point is that the chain conveyor I5 has a speed 'less' than that of the belt I4 and the belt I6 has a speed greater than that of the chain l5. The

purpose of this will be hereinafter set forth.

The machine above described operates as fol- 1ows..=The-blocks B are delivered by hand or otherwise on tothe righthand conveyor belt [4 andare carried therealong and delivered on to the chain conveyor 15. lfn as much as the chain :conveyor is travelling at a lesser or slower speed than the conveyor belt 14 theblocks are brought automatically on the chain. into endv to end abutting relationship,v so as to form a continuous surface for receiving the facing lay The blocks are fed in this closed column formation under-the hopper by means of the chain conveyor l5 and the rollers 36. which co-operate with the chain to give the necessary large force for inovingthe blocks forward whilst at the same time not subjecting them to such stresses as are likely to break them. This force or pressure is sufficient. to overcome the combined weight of the several abutting blocks or bricks B. on the The guide rail 46 acts on the upper.

The shaft 3'! of the roller chains 22 of the conveyor I5 on rails 23 between the conveyors i4 and I6 and the retarding action caused by the pack roller 3| which operates at sufficient pressure to firmly press, compact and cause permanent adherence of the thin layer L of facing material of cement or plaster to the top faces of the hard blocks or bricks going to make up the finished wall surface when the per is'applied to and firmly compacted on to the faces of the blocks by means of the roller 3|, this layer being levelled off by means of'the pack knife or screed 33. The layer applied to the blocks is indicated by the reference letter L.

After passing beneath the hopper and through the facing mechanism the blocks are delivered by the chain conveyor IE on to the belt conveyor 16. In as much as the speed of this belt conveyor is greater than the speed of the chain conveyor the blocks are separated one from another and this serves automatically to break or part the facing layer of one block cleanly and sharply from the facing layer of another even although the facing layer has been applied for convenience as a continuous strip along the continuous closed column of blocks fed beneath the hopper. Any facing material tending to make the edges of the blocks ragged is scraped off by the scraper mechanism The machine above described, modified to some extent, if necessary, may be used for facing blocks of the character forming the subject matter of 'ourpatent application No; 19;.945/44. The plaster facing of these blocks may terminate short of the edges thereof so that when; the

blocks are built up to form a wall, channels are provided between neighbouring facings and these channels are pointed-up with mortar or the like to conceal the joints. To provide a facing which -material to such edges.

Instead of ordinary belt conveyors, the conveyor means may comprise an endless series of link-like platforms which operate after the manner of a conveyor belt to feed the blocks through the machine. These platforms may be faced with a friction material. A conveyor belt of this character may be utilised for parting the facing material of one block from the facing layer of the block immediately behind instead. of adopting the differential belt speed arrangement described above. This parting takes place where the conveyor belt links at the delivery end of the machine turned downwardly over the pulley at the end of the belt and the blocks pass on to a further conveyor such as the conveyor belt Hi. The angular movement given to the block supporting platforms at this turn in the belt imparts a slight upward angularv movement to each block, as it comes to the end of the belt, out of the plane of the line of blocks passing through the machine and this bending movement in the line of blocks causes. the facin material to part cleanly and neatly at the junction between the One, at least of the side guide rails I8 may be adjustable and one or both of the side rails and/or the guide rail 45 may be spring-loaded into engagement with the blocks.

The blocks may be inverted and run through the machine a second time if both faces are required to have a pro-cast facing layer applied to them.

The width of each conveyor may be increased so that they will feed transverse rows of several .blocks through the machine the other parts of the machine bein duplicated where necessary forthe treatment of the several blocks in each row simultaneously.

A pair of spring arms and a short inclined roller conveyor may be provided between the belt conveyor and the final chain conveyor, as near the far or discharge end of the hopper, to support the faced blocks as they are transferred and until their movement is taken over by the final conveyor.

As an alternative arrangement to that described for severing the facing connecting the blocks together a vertically reciprocating knife may be provided beyond the feeding hopper. This knife will be arranged to sever the facing in a plane passing through the abutting faces of the blocks. Operation of the knife at the correct tim may be controlled by a feeler mechanism sensitive to the movement of the blocks, say, by engaging in the hollow cavities therein. An arrangement of this nature is shown very diagrammatically in Figures 7, 8 and 9. In this arrangement a knife 50 for severing the facing in alignment with the junction between neighbouring blocks is mounted on a carriage 5| which runs in an inclined track 52. Spring loaded fingers 53 are mounted on the carriage 5| and engaged in the cavities of the hollow blocks B so that the movement of the blocks through the machine serves to traverse the carriage (in the direction of the arrow) along the track 52. Due to the downward inclination of the track the knife 5!! is automatically brought down so as to sever the facing and part the blocks one from another. At the end of each severing operation pivoted detents 54 on the carriage are raised by cam devices 55 so as to release the spring fingers 53' and permit them to spring out of engagement with the block. The carriage then moves back under the action of the spring 56 until the heads of the fingers 53 engage cam devices 5'! which reinsert them in the appropriate cavities of the next block. The fingers are held in this position by re-engagement with them of the detents 54. It will be appreciated that by operating the knife 50 by the blocks themselves in the manner just described it will always enter and cut the facing in substantially correct alignment with the junction between neighbouring blocks.

Whilst the invention has been described more particularly as applied to the facing of hollow blocks, it can be applied to the facing of other articles. For instance pro-cast concrete building units may be faced in a machine according to the present invention so as to d spense with n ing.

I claim:

1. A machine for applying a plastic cement facing layer to fired clay building blocks, comprising an input conveyor adapted for supporting and carrying forward an unbroken column of fired clay building blocks in end to end abutting relationship, driving means for said conveyor, means for applying and securing under substantial pressure an elongated facing strip of plastic cement continuously over a plurality of the abutting blocks as they move forward on said conveyor, a take-off conveyor operative to receive the blocks after they have passed through the facing applying means, means driving said take-01f conveyor at a speed greater than that of the input conveyor so as to break the abutting relationship of the blocks and sever the continuous facing strip in alignment with the abutting ends of the foremost block and the immediately succeeding block, a roller having a horizontal axle, said roller being positioned before the facing applying means and having a friction surface which bears on the upper faces of the column of blocks moving towards the facing applying means, resilient means acting on said roller so as to urge it down onto the blocks whereby it makes driving engagement with the latter and also holds the blocks to the conveyor, and positive driving means for the roller, so that the roller is driven independently of the movement of the blocks, whereby the roller assists the conveyor to move the blocks through the facing applying means.

2. A machine for applying a plastic cement facing layer to fired clay building blocks, comprising an input conveyor for supporting and carrying forward an unbroken column of fired clay building blocks in end to end abutting rela-,

tionship, driving means for said conveyor, means for applying and ecuring under substantial pressure an elongated facing strip of plastic cement continuously over a plurality of the abutting blocks as they move forward on said conveyor, a take-off conveyor operative to receive the blocks after they have passed through the facing applying means, means driving said take-off conveyor at a speed greater than that of the input conveyor so as to break the abutting relationship of the blocks and sever the continuous facing strip in alignment with the abutting ends of the foremost block and the immediately succeeding block, a roller having a horizontal axle, said roller being positioned before the facing applying means and having a friction surface which bears on the upper faces of the column of blocks moving towards the facing applying means, resilient means acting on said roller so as to urge it down onto the block whereby it makes driving engagement with the latter and also holds the blocks to the conveyor, a pair of arms having journal-bearings towards their ends for the axle of the roller, pivotal supports on the'frame of the machine for the opposite ends of said arms, said pivotal supports including a driving shaft, a driving wheel on said driving shaft, a driven wheel on the axle of the roller, and a driving belt between said driving and driven wheels, whereby the roller can oscillate up and down, about the pivotal support of the arms and under the control of the resilient means, and is driven so as to assist the conveyor to move the blocks through the facing applying means.

3. A machine for applying a facing or layer of cement or plaster to blocks without molds or enclosures surrounding or enclosing same, comprising means for applying said facing to the blocks under sufficient pressure to cause said facing to be compacted and adhere to the blocks, a rigidly supported and guided input conveyor for supporting and carrying the blocks to the facing applying means in direct end to end abutting relationship free of molds, a movable pressure member 7 acting: directly on the blocks in advance of the facing. applying means to hold them under pressure to the input conveyor in such relationship and driven so as to cooperate with the input conveyor to assist the input conveyor in causing movement of the blocks through the facing applying means, a take-01f conveyor operative to receive the blocks in said end to end abutting relation with a continuous facing thereon after they have passed through the facing applying means and beyond the discharge end of the latter, and differential-speed driving means for said conveyors operating so that the speed of the takeoff conveyor is greater than the speed of the input conveyor whereby the blocks after they leave the facing applying means are separated from butting relationship and the facing of one block is severed from the facing of the succeeding block.

4. A machine for applying a facing or layer of cement or plaster to blocks without molds or enclosures surrounding or enclosing same, comprising means for applying said facing to the blocks under sufficient pressure to cause said facing to be compacted and adhere to the blocks, a rigidly supported and guided input conveyor for supporting and carrying the blocks to the facing applying means in direct end to end abutting relationship free of molds, a pressure roller acting directly on the blocks in advance of the facing applying means to hold them under pressure to the input conveyor in such relationship andv driven so as to cooperate with the input conveyor to assist the input conveyor in causing movement of the blocks through the facing applying means, a take-01f conveyor operative to receive the blocks in said end to end abutting relation with a continuous facing thereon after they have passed through the facing applying means and beyond the discharge end of the latter, and differentialspeed driving means for said conveyors operating so that the speed of the takeoff conveyor is greater than the speed of the input conveyor whereby the blocks after they leave the facing applying means are separated from buttin relationship and the facing of one block is severed from the facing of the succeeding block I 5. A machine for applying a facing or layer of cement or plaster to blocks without molds or enclosures surrounding or enclosing, same, comprising means for applying said facing to the blocks under sufficient pressure to cause said facing to be compacted and adhere to the blocks, an input conveyor for supporting and carrying the blocks to the facing applying means in direct end to end abutting relationship free of molds, rails for supporting and guiding the upper run of the input conveyor into and through the facing applying means, driven pressure rollers acting directly on the blocks in advance of the facing applying means to hold them under pressure to the upper run of the input conveyor and said upper run to the supporting rails so as to cooperate with and assist the input conveyor in causing movement of the blocks through the facing applying means, a take oif' conveyor operative to receive the blocks in said end to end abutting relation with a continuous facing thereon after they have passed through the facing applyin means and beyond the discharge end of the latter, and differential-speed driving means for said conveyors operating so that the speed of the takeoff conveyor is greater than the speed of the input conveyor whereby the blocks after they leave the facing applying means are separated from butting relationship and the facing of one 8 1 block is severed from the facing of the succeed;- ing block.

6. A machine for applying a facing or layer of cement or plaster to blocks withoutmolds or enclosures surrounding or enclosing same, comprising means for applying said facing to the blocks under sufficient pressure to cause said facing to be compacted and adhere to the blocks, a rigidly supported and guided input conveyor for supporting and carrying the blocks to the facing applying means in direct end to end abutting relationship free of molds, a movable pressure memher acting directly on the blocks in advance of the facing applying means to hold them under pressure to the input conveyor in such relationship and driven so as to cooperate with the input conveyor to assist the input conveyor in. causing movement of the blocks through the facing applying means, a take-off conveyor operative to receive the blocks in said end to end abutting relation with a continuous facing thereon after they have passed through the facing applying means and beyond the discharge end of the latter, cutting means beyond the discharge end of the facing applying means for severing the facing at such point in the plane of the abutting faces of the blocks, and. means cooperative with. the cutting means to separate the abutting blocks and severed facings thereon and discharge same in separated relation.

7. A machine for applying a cement or plaster facing or layer to blocks comprising a feeclhopper for containing the facing material. in form to be distributed and spread over the upper faces of the blocks, means in the hopper for uniformly applying said facing to the tops of the blocks under considerable pressuregreatly in excess of hand plastering, a driven input conveyor for supporting and carrying the blocks to and through the facing applying means in face to face abutting relations-hip, means to feed the blocks to the input conveyor in alignment, a floating pressure roller acting on the blocks to hold them to the input conveyor and driven so as to assist the conveyor in moving the blocks through the facing applying means, means beneath the input conveyor and pressure roller to support the blocks and sustain the pressure of said roller thereon, and a driven take-off conveyor operative to receive the blocks after they have passed through the facing applying means, and driven at a greater speed than the speed of the input conveyor whereby the blocks after they leave the facing applying means are separated from abutting relationship and the facing layer of one block is parted from the facing layer of the succeeding block in line with the separated abutting faces of the blocks.

8. A machine for applying a cement or plaster facing or layer to blocks comprisinga feed hopper for containing the facing material in. form to be distributedand spread over the upper faces of the blocks, means in the hopper for uniformly applying said facing to the tops of the blocks under considerable pressure greatly in excess of hand plastering a driven input conveyor for supporting and carrying the blocks to and through the facing applying means in face to face abutting relationship, means to feed the blocks to the input conveyor in spaced face to face relation, a floating pressure roller acting on the blocks to hold them to the input conveyor and driven so as to assist the conveyor in moving the blocks through the facing applying means, means beneath the input conveyor and. pressure roller to support .the blocks and sustain the pressureiof 9. A machine for applying a'cement or plaster facing or layer to blocks comprising a feed hopper for containing the facing material in form to be distributed and spread over the upper faces of the blocks, means in the hopper for uniformly applying said facing to the tops of the blocks under considerable pressure greatly in excess of hand plastering, a driven input conveyor for supporting and carrying the blocks to and through the facing applying means in face to face abutting relationship, means to feed the blocks to the input conveyor in alignment, a floating pressure roller acting on the blocks to hold them to the input conveyor and driven so as to assist the conveyor in moving the blocks through the facing applying means, means beneath the input conveyor and pressure roller to support the blocks and sustain the pressure of said roller thereon, and a driven take-off conveyor operative to receive the blocks after they have passed through the facing applying means, means to sever the facing in a plane between abutting blocks after being faced and to part the blocks in sequence therewith between succeeding blocks, said block feeding means operating slower than the input conveyor and pressure roller to dispose the blocks in abutting relation, and means for removing excess facing material from the upper face and side edges only of the blocks, said take-off conveyor operating faster than the input conveyor and pressure roller to discharge the faced blocks in spaced relation.

10. A machine for applying a facing or layer of cement or plaster to hard fired building blocks or bricks comprising an input conveyor supporting and carrying blocks so as to maintain them in an unbroken column of blocks in end to end or face to face abutting relationship, means including a pressure roller for applying under substantial pressure greatly in excess of pressure used in hand application in situ, an elongated facing strip extending continuously over a plurality of abutting blocks, a positively driven friction feeding roller in advance of the facing applying means acting on the blocks prior to facing same to assist the input conveyor in the movement of the blocks through the facing applying means and adjustably spring-pressure loaded into direct engagement with the upper faces of the unbroken column of blocks to hold them to the input conveyor, longitudinal rails supporting the input conveyor longitudinally in' alignment with and immediately under said conveyor and below the blocks to take and sustain the pressure of the feeding roller, a take-off conveyor operative to receive the blocks after they have passed through the facing applying means, and means driving the take-off conveyor at a speed greater than that of the input conveyor so as to break the abutting relationship of the blocks and to sever the continuous strip of facing in alignment with the edges of the blocks.

11. A machine for applying a plastic cement facing layer to. fired clay building blocks, com prising an endless input conveyor adapted for supporting and carrying forward an unbroken column of fired clay building blocks in end to end abutting relationship, rails and rollers supporting the upper lap of the input conveyor and blocks thereon, driving means for said conveyor including a driven roller acting directly on the blocks over said upper lap with considerable pressure for moving said blocks and conveyor forwardly, means for applying and securing under substantial pressure an elongated facingstrip of plastic cement continuously over a plurality of the abutting blocks as they move forward on said conveyor, a take-off conveyor operative to receive the blocks after they have passed through the facing applying means, and means driving'said, take-off conveyor at a speed greater than that of the input conveyor so as to break the abutting relationship of the blocks and sever the continu-.-'

ous facing strip in alignment with the abutting ends of the foremost block and the immediately succeeding block.

12. A machine for applying a plastic cement facing layer to fired clay building blocks, comprising an input conveyor for supporting and carrying forward an unbroken column of aligned fired clay building blocks in face-to-face abutting relationship including rails under the upper runs of the conveyor and blocks thereon, driving means for said conveyor, means for applying and securing under substantial pressure to compress and cause adherence of an elongated facing strip of plastic cement or plaster continuously over the top faces of a plurality of the abutting blocks as they move forward on said conveyor, a take-off, a take-off conveyor operative to receive the blocks after they have passed through the facing applying means, means driving said take-off conveyor at a speed greater than that of the input conveyor so as to break the abutting relationship of the blocks and sever the continuous facing strip in alignment with the abutting ends of the foremost block and the immediately succeeding block, positively driven pressure rollers acting directly on the upper faces of the column of blocks moving towards and before being acted upon by the facing applying means to supplement the feeding action of the input conveyor to overcome the weight of the column of blocks and pressure of the facing strip applying and securing means.

13. A machine for applying a plastic cement facing layer to fired clay building blocks, comprising an endless input conveyor adapted for supporting and carrying forward an unbroken column of fired clay building blocks in end to end abutting relationship, rails and rollers supporting the upper lap of the input conveyor and blocks thereon, driving means for said conveyor including a driven roller, means for applying and securing under substantial pressure an elongated facing strip of plastic cement continuously over a plurality of the abutting blocks as they move forward on said conveyor, a take-off conveyor operative to receive the blocks after they have passed through the facing applying means, means driving said take-off conveyor at a speed greater than that of the input conveyor so as to break the abutting relationship of the blocks and sever the continuous facing strip in alignment with the abutting ends of the foremost block and the immediately succeeding block, another roller having a horizontal axle, said latter roller being positioned before the facing applying means and bearing directly on the upper faces of the column of blocks with sufiicient pressure 'to move same towards the facing applying means, resilient means acting on said latter roller so as to urge it down onto the blocks, whereby it makes driving engagement with and also holds the blocks to the input conveyor, and positive driving means for said latter roller so that itis driven independently of the movement of the blocks, whereby toass'ist the input conveyor to move the blocks through the facing applying means.

ARTHUR GEORGE SHARPLES.

REFERENCES CITED Number Name Date 941,792 Meeker a Nov. 30, 1909 1,403,363 Webb, Jr. 2 Janolo, 1922 Number Number Name Date Debay .1 1.' Dec. 2,- 1924 Ney -11--- Jan. 13, 1925 Branden -2- Oct. 2'7, 1925 Martin Mar. 11,- 71930 Oslund 1 June 16, 1931 Roberts Oct. '24, 1939 De Wyk, Jr. Aug, 1 1, 1942 Norton i May 7, 1946 Rembert 1 1 June 4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 0untry Dat erman Aug- 8, 1930 G at Bri ain Sept. 2,, 1938 Great Britain Jan. 251., 1949 Great Britain -2.-- Dec. 7, 1943