Apparatus for setting formed articles

#1. Field of the Invention

#The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for setting formed articles such as ceramic briquettes provided in cross rows on a conveyor belt.

#2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention Including Prior Art

#In the accompanying drawings in which are shown several of the various possible embodiments of the invention:

#FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the apparatus;

#FIG. 2 is a view along section line II--II of FIG. 1;

#In accordance with the present invention an apparatus is provided for forming a setting of ceramic briquettes, which allows the separation of the briquettes for forming a setting without excessive interference with the briquettes and in particular without chafing and in a minimum time and which simultaneously effects an accurate positioning of the briquettes.

#A transport belt carries closely located ceramic briquettes in cross rows, which are carried into the region of an apparatus for separating the closely located ceramic briquettes under provision of predetermined spacings and a readying belt is disposed following, which receives the spaced apart ceramic briquettes. The apparatus for separation is provided with a bridge crossing over the transport belt carrying the ceramic briquettes located close to each other in cross rows. The bridge can move up and down and a gripper carriage is disposed on the bridge, which carriage can move back and forth in a direction cross to the carrying direction of the transport belt. Individual grippers are disposed next to each other and preferably in a line on the gripper carriage for gripping the ceramic briquettes at their front sides. Alternatively, two gripper carriages can be provided which move towards each other and away from each other.

#The advantages provided by the present invention comprise that the ceramic briquettes are placed by the individual grippers during the formation of the setting vertically and without tipping motion or chafing at the edges onto the rolls resulting in an accurate maintaining of the spacings to be provided between the ceramic briquettes.