Brick handling and forming voids in layers of bricks

A method of forming at least one void in a multilayered group of bricks comprising the steps of:

• removing an upper layer of the bricks to expose the next lower layer of bricks for handling, removing a number of bricks from said lower layer, and restoring said upper layer on said lower layer, and wherein prior to restoring said upper layer on said lower layer a sheet-like member is placed over the lower layer.

Apparatus for handling and forming voids in a layer of bricks wherein the bricks are arranged in a number of generally parallel rows with each row containing a least one brick;

• the apparatus comprising in combination a storage member, and first means for removing at least one row of bricks from said layer of bricks to form a void in the layer of bricks and for depositing said removed row of bricks on said storage member, and wherein the apparatus includes conveyor means for conveying said layer of bricks over a conveyor path to a stacking station wherein said layer of bricks is to be stacked, and wherein said first means is positioned to remove said rows of bricks while said layer of bricks is on said path prior to reaching said stacking station, and wherein said storage member is independent of said conveyor means and positioned to receive bricks at a station along said conveyor means prior to said stacking station, and wherein there is further included second means for moving said storage member of conveying the removed row of bricks to a charging station for returning said removed row of bricks to said conveyor path, said charging station being located adjacent said conveyor path.

Apparatus for forming voids in a layer of a multilayered stack of bricks including upper and lower layers of bricks with the upper layer of bricks resting on the lower layer of bricks;

• the apparatus comprising in combination;
• first brick gripping means for gripping said upper layer of bricks and moving same away from said lower layer of bricks, and second brick gripping means for gripping a predetermined number of bricks in said lower layer of bricks, and removing the same from said lower layer of bricks to form voids in said lower layer of bricks at predetermined locations in said lower layer, and wherein said first and second brick gripping means are mounted for movement in a vertical path and wherein said first brick gripping means is also movable in a horizontal plane for depositing said upper layer on said lower layer after the voids are formed in the lower layer, at a station spaced from the location where the voids are formed in said lower layer, and wherein there is further included first and second actuating means for respectively actuating said first and second brick gripping means independently of each other.