System for laying masonry blocks

A system for laying masonry-blocks in multiple-block units, for masonry blocks each having two opposing sides, two opposing ends, a top, a bottom and at least one inner cavity extending into the block from an aperture in the top surface, and for masonry blocks positioned upon entry to said system such that each look has at least one end which is adjacent to the end of at least one other block and such that the blocks are positioned at predetermined intervals so as to create a gap between at least a portion of each adjacent block end, said block-laying system comprising:

• a mortar injection device for injecting mortar into the gap between at least a portion of each pair of adjacent blocks, thereby forming a mortar joint therebetween and, in turn, an integral row of blocks and a multiple block unit;
• a block hoist apparatus for raising and lowering blocks which have been formed into a multiple-block unit, the block hoist apparatus configured to clamp blocks arranged in a multiple block unit through the inner cavity of at least one of the blocks such that the block hoist apparatus maintains blocks formed into a multiple block unit in alignment;
• a mortar laying apparatus for selectively and controllably dispensing mortar onto the top surface of blocks which have been formed into a multiple-block unit, while substantially limiting mortar application into the inner cavity of the blocks through the block apertures;
• said block hoist apparatus comprising:
• a hoist transmission member for connecting the block hoist apparatus to a mechanical hoist for raising and lowering the apparatus;
• a weight distribution beam connected to said hoist transmission member;
• at least two gripping arms operably extending from said weight distribution beam,
• each gripping arm having a first end and a second end, said first end of each gripping arm pivotally attached to said weight distribution beam so as to allow each gripping arm to pivot freely through a range of positions generally defining a plane occupied by each gripping arm;
• said at least two gripping arms extending downwardly from said weight distribution beam and terminating at their respective second ends, said second end of each gripping arm including a major gripping member having a block gripping surface;
• at least a portion of each of said major gripping members mounted to a gripper mounting bar, said gripper mounting bar having a top surface, a bottom surface, two side surfaces and two ends;
• said gripper mounting bar positioned below said weight distribution beam with at least a portion of the gripping surface of each major gripping member extending below said bottom surface of the gripper mounting bar for positioning at least a portion of each major gripping member into the inner cavity of different blocks which form a multiple block unit;
• at least one opposing minor gripping member attached to said gripper mounting bar in a position spaced distally apart from and cooperating with each major gripping member, said at least one opposing minor gripping member having a block gripping surface,
• at least a portion of the gripping surface of each minor gripping member extending below said bottom surface of the gripper mounting bar for positioning at least a portion of each minor gripping member into the inner cavity of at least one block which is a part of a multiple block unit,
• each of said minor gripping members cooperating with each of said corresponding major gripping members upon lifting of said weight distribution beam by said mechanical hoist to exert a clamping force along an interior portion of the inner cavity of blocks which are in contact with said major and minor gripping members for retaining blocks in alignment, for simultaneous raising and lowering of blocks in a multiple block unit by said hoist transmission member.

A system for laying masonry blocks in multiple-block units, for masonry blocks each having two opposing sides, two opposing ends, a top, a bottom and at least one inner cavity extending Into the block from an aperture in the top surface, and for masonry blocks positioned upon entry to said system such that each block has at least one end which is adjacent to the end of at least one other block and such that the blocks are positioned at predetermined intervals so as to create a gap between at least a portion of each adjacent block end, said block-laying system comprising:

• a mortar injection device for injecting mortar into the gap between at least a portion of each pair of adjacent blocks, thereby forming a mortar joint therebetween and, in turn, an integral row of blocks and a multiple block unit;
• a block hoist apparatus for raising and lowering blocks which have been formed into a multiple-block unit, the block hoist apparatus configured to clamp blocks arranged in a multiple block unit through the inner cavity of at least one of the blocks such that the block hoist apparatus maintains blocks formed into a multiple block unit in alignment;
• a mortar laying apparatus for selectively and controllably dispensing mortar onto the top surface of blocks which have been formed into a multiple-block unit, while substantially limiting mortar application into the inner cavity of the blocks through the block apertures
• said mortar laying apparatus comprising:
• an applicator for applying a substantially uniform coat of mortar to the top surface of a row of blocks, said applicator including a port;
• a housing for the mortar applicator, including a housing guide extending from said housing to allow said housing to controllably traverse a row of blocks, and to align said mortar applicator over a top surface of a row of blocks during application of mortar;
• means for controlling the dispensing of mortar onto the top surface of a row of blocks to facilitate selective application of mortar onto the top surface of the blocks, and to substantially limit application of mortar into the inner cavities of the blocks;
• said means for controlling the dispensing of mortar facilitating the selective dispensing of mortar through the port and onto the top surface of a row of blocks, but substantially prohibiting the dispensing of mortar through said port and into the inner cavities of individual blocks.

A method for laying masonry blocks in multiple-block units comprising:

• positioning the blocks, each having two opposing sides, two opposing ends, a top surface, a bottom surface, at least one aperture in said top surface, and at least one inner cavity extending into the block from said aperture, such that each block has at least one end which is adjacent to an end of at least one other block;
• spacing the blocks at predetermined intervals so as to create a gap between at least a portion of each adjacent block end;
• injecting mortar into the gap between at least a portion of each pair of adjacent blocks to form a mortar joint therebetween, thus forming an integral row of blocks and a multiple-block unit;
• inserting at least a portion of one pair of distally spaced, cooperating and opposing major and minor gripping members into the inner cavity of at least one block of said multiple-block unit,
• each of said opposing major and minor gripping members having a block gripping surface and being attached to a gripper mounting bar such that at least a portion of said major and minor gripping members extend below said gripper mounting bar,
• each of said major gripping members being associated with a second end of a gripping arm which extends downwardly from a weight distribution beam,
• a first end of the gripping arm being pivotally attached to said weight distribution beam;
• lifting the weight distribution beam, thus causing the exertion of a clamping force along an interior portion of said inner cavity of the blocks gripped by said major and minor gripping members to retain all of said blocks in said multiple block unit in alignment, for simultaneous raising and lowering of same;
• raising the multiple block unit;
• and
• positioning the multiple block unit on a preselected location.

A system for laying masonry blocks in multiple-block units, for masonry blocks each having two opposing sides, two opposing ends, a top, a bottom and at least one inner cavity extending into the block from an aperture in the top surface, and for masonry blocks positioned upon entry to said system such that each block has at least one end which is adjacent to the end of at least one other block and such that the blocks are positioned at predetermined intervals so as to create a gap between at least a portion of each adjacent block end, said block-laying system comprising:

• a mortar injection device for injecting mortar into the-gap between at least a portion of each pair of adjacent blocks, thereby forming a mortar joint therebetween and, in turn, an integral row of blocks and a multiple block unit;
• a block hoist apparatus for raising and lowering blocks formed into a multiple-block unit, the block hoist apparatus configured to clamp blocks arranged in a multiple block unit through the inner cavity of at least one of the blocks such that the block hoist apparatus maintains blocks formed into a multiple block unit in alignment;
• a mortar laying apparatus for selectively dispensing mortar onto the top surface of blocks which have been formed into a multiple-block unit, while substantially limiting mortar application into the inner cavity of the blocks through the block apertures;
• said mortar injection device including at least one mortar dispensing chute for injecting mortar into the gap between blocks,
• said mortar dispensing chutes corresponding to each gap between blocks in a multiple block unit having at least three blocks;
• said mortar dispensing chutes being adjustable along the length of said mortar injection device to accommodate blocks of different dimensions.