Apparatus for forming a tyne layer in an automatic brick stacking system

An apparatus for removing at least two courses of brick and for selectively depositing one course or two courses of brick, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) an overhead frame;
• (b) a first pair of opposed gripping heads attached to said frame along the upper edge of each head, said first pair of heads having a first gripping surface located along the lower edge of each head;
• (c) a second pair of opposed gripping heads pivotally attached to said first pair of opposed gripping heads along the upper edge of each head, said second pair of heads having a second gripping surface located along the lower edge of each head and parallel and adjacent to and below said first gripping surface;
• and
• (d) a fluid operated cylinder extending between said second pair of opposed gripping heads for providing for independent operation of said second pair of opposed gripping heads.

An apparatus for forming a tyne layer in an automatic brick stacking system having a conveyor for moving courses of brick from a kiln car to a stacking and straping station, said apparatus comprising:

• (a) a set-down transfer head for removing a course of brick from said conveyor, said transfer head including:
• (i) an overhead frame;
• (ii) a first pair of opposed gripping heads attached to said frame, said heads having a first gripping surface located along the lower edge of each head;
• (iii) a second pair of opposed gripping heads pivotally attached to said first pair of opposed gripping heads, said heads having a second gripping surface located along the lower edge of each head and parallel and adjacent to and below said first gripping surface;
• and (iv) a fluid operated cylinder extending between said second pair of opposed gripping heads for providing independent operation of said second pair of opposed gripping heads;
• (b) a separation conveyor located transversely to said conveyor for receiving brick from said set-down transfer head and conveying the bricks, said separation conveyor having a plurality of parallel, spaced-apart conveying means defining an upper surface for moving the bricks in a longitudinal direction along said upper surface;
• (c) stop means attached to said separation conveyor for selectively engaging and stopping the movement of bricks therepast said stop means;
• (d) a first lift means disposed between said conveying means and between one end of said separation conveyor and said stop means for lifting and redepositing a portion of the bricks upstream of said stop means, whereby said conveying means, stop means, and first lift means are sequentially operated in a cooperative relationship to space the rows of brick apart in the longitudinal direction of conveyance and at predetermined intervals to form said tyne layer;
• and
• (e) a tyne pick-up head for removing said tyne layer from said separation conveyor.