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US 4,068,766 AGranted
Method and apparatus for stacking and blending bricks or the like
AssigneeAMI Industries, Inc.
InventorMarvin Glenn Schmitt
Life of this patent
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AssigneeAMI Industries, Inc.
InventorMarvin Glenn Schmitt
Estimating the term…
A stacker blender for bricks is disclosed in which a plurality of pallets move progressively down an inclined conveyor and are progressively positioned in a series of course receiving positions. The angle of inclination of the conveyor is arranged so that, after indexing, the uppermost course of a stack on each pallet is positioned at a predetermined horizontally aligned level to receive a subsequent course. A gripper transfer simultaneously grips a plurality of courses from a supply conveyor and transfers a course to each stack at each stacking location. Because each partial stack has one more course than the preceding partial stack the courses transferred during a given transfer operation appear at different levels in the different stacks. This assures complete blending. A void course is transferred at a predetermined location during each cycle so a simplified void course forming system is utilized. With a stacker blender a completed stack is produced during each machine cycle and is subsequently transferred by a shuttle transfer and a roller conveyor system to a strapper. Stabilizing means are provided to grip the partially formed stacks as they are formed and as they are indexed along the incline conveyor from one position to the next. A damping or shock absorbing system is provided for the transfer which allows the use of a simple automotive type shock absorber to provide a damping gradient which insures a smooth deceleration of the transfer as it approaches the end positions of its travel.
A brick stacker blender for forming stacks of courses of brick comprising an inclined conveyor providing a plurality of stacking surfaces progressively movable along said conveyor between stacking positions in which each surface is spaced below the preceding surface by a distance substantially equal to the height of a course of brick, and transfer means operable to position a course on each stacking surface at each stacking position.
A stacker for producing stacks of rectangular articles such as brick or the like comprising a plurality of stack support surfaces on each of which a stack is progressively formed, cyclically operable support means for sequentially positioning said support surfaces at horizontally, regularly spaced article receiving stations between which each support surface is lowered a distance substantially equal to the height of a course whereby stacks progressively built on each support surface have a height substantially equal to the height of the stacks being progressively built on the other of said support surfaces, and cyclically operable transfer means operable during each cycle to simultaneously position a course spaced in a regular array of courses corresponding to the spacing of article receiving stations on each support surface at each of said receiving stations whereby a complete stack is formed during each cycle of operation.
A stacker for producing stacks of rectangular articles such as brick or the like comprising a plurality of stack support surfaces on which a stack is progressively formed, cyclically operable support means for sequentially positioning said support surfaces at horizontally spaced article receiving stations between which each support surface is lowered a distance substantially equal to the height of a course whereby stacks progressively built on each support surface have a height substantially equal to the height of the stacks being progressively built on the other of said support surfaces, and cyclically operable transfer means operable during each cycle to position a course on each support surface at each of said receiving stations whereby a complete stack is formed during each cycle of operation, each stack support surface being provided by a pallet, and said support means operating to return pallets to a first article receiving position for subsequent stacking.
A method of stacking and blending brick or the like in stacks having a plurality of courses resting one on another comprising forming a plurality of partial stacks with progressively increasing numbers of courses therein, positioning each of said partial stacks with the upper courses thereof in a predetermined position to receive a subsequent course, positioning an additional course on each of said partial stacks, and indexing such stacks to position the upper courses thereon in said predetermined position to receive a subsequent course, said stacks being moved laterally and downwardly along an inclined direction during said indexing so that the stacks occupy the position previously occupied by an adjacent stack.
A method of stacking and blending brick or the like in which said stacks have a plurality of courses resting one on another comprising forming a line of partial stacks with a number of courses within said stacks increasing from one end of said line toward the other end thereof, positioning said stacks so that the upper courses are substantially at a predetermined level;
A method of stacking and blending brick or the like in which said stacks have a plurality of courses resting one on another comprising forming a line of partial stacks with a number of courses within said stacks increasing from one end of said line toward the other end thereof, positioning said stacks so that the upper courses are substantially at a predetermined level;
A method of stacking and blending bricks or the like in stacks having a plurality of courses resting one on another comprising positioning a plurality of partial stacks supported for inclined movement in a predetermined direction, said stack being arranged with increasing numbers of courses in said direction and with their upper courses substantially at a predetermined level;
A method of stacking and blending brick or the like in stacks having a plurality of courses resting one on another comprising forming a plurality of partial stacks with different numbers of courses therein, positioning each of said partial stacks with the upper courses thereof in a predetermined position to receive a subsequent course, positioning an additional course on each of said partial stacks, and indexing such stacks to position the upper course thereon in said predetermined position to receive a subsequent course, said brick being supplied in courses arranged in predetermined order, said additional courses being positioned on said stacks in said predetermined order but being positioned at different levels in said stacks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.