US 4,786,227 AGranted

Automated apparatus for lining the inside wall of a vessel with bricks

AssigneePaul Wurth S.A.

InventorsVictor Kremer, Michel Kirchen, Emile Lonardi

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Abstract

The apparatus of the present invention utilizes a bricklaying robot which comprises an automatic brick-handling or grabbing device fastened to the end of a main arm which is carried by a frame mounted on a work platform; and which is radially movable relative to the platform. Circular movement of the arm and of the grabbing device relative to the vertical axis of the work platform is generated as result of a rotation of the platform about this vertical axis. The present invention also utilizes a storage table which is mounted underneath the main arm of the robot, so as to be movable along a vertical axis and rotatable about the axis. The present invention further includes an automatic depalletizing mechanism comprising a pivoting arm, of which one of the ends is equipped with a brick-grasping device and the other end is mounted pivotally on a support sliding parallel to the main arm of the robot between two rails of the frame. This brick lining apparatus is less bulky than known prior art apparatuses and offers monitoring personnel a greater degree of safety.

Claims16

Dependent claims

Automated apparatus for lining the inside wall of a vessel having a verticle axis with bricks comprising:

a work platform vertically movable within the vessel and capable of rotating about the vertical axis of the vessel;
means for raising and lowering brick pallets and depositing them at a predetermined location on said platform;
automatic depalletizing means;
an intermediate storage table, said automatic deplalletizing means adapted to transfer bricks from the pallets towards said intermediate storage table;
handling robot means for picking up the bricks from said intermediate storage table and lining the inside wall of the vessel;
frame means mounted on said work platform;
and
wherein said handling robot means comprises;
a main arm having first and second ends, said first end being supported by said frame means, said arm being radially movable with respect to said platform;
an automatic brick-handling grabbing means attached to said second end of said main arm;
and
said main arm and said automatic brick-handling grabbing device undergoing circular movements with respect to the vertical axis of the vessel as a result of rotation of said work platform about said vessel vertical axis.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.