US 7,070,384 B2Granted

Apparatus and method for automatically unloading brick from kiln cars and preparation for shipment

AssigneeGeneral Shale Products Corporation

InventorRobert W. Keyes

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Abstract

Apparatus and methods for unloading and binding brick or other components include an infeed conveyor that delivers layers of brick to a transfer distribution carriage. The distribution carriage repositions the brick layers on either an outfeed conveyor or a tine conveyor. The layers of bricks carried by the outfeed conveyor are moved to where a tine layer is positioned on their upper surface. The tine conveyor divides the bricks into an arrangement of rows spaced apart to define openings for receiving a lifting or moving member, so that when the tine layer is positioned in a completed stack, enables movement of the stack by a forklift or other suitable moving means. Additional layer or layers are then positioned on the tine row on a packaging conveyor so that completed stacks are delivered to a package station that binds the stack of bricks or other components into an integrated structure.

Claims47

Dependent claims

An apparatus for arranging components into an assembly, comprising:

a first conveyor means for receiving and for transporting successive layers of components to a distribution position;
a distribution means located at the distribution position for selectively repositioning the successive layers of components from the first conveyor means;
a second outfeed conveyor means for receiving from the distribution means selected layers of the successive layers of components repositioned on the second outfeed conveyor means by the distribution means and for transporting the selected layers of the successive layers of components to an outfeed conveyor position;
a third tine conveyor means for receiving from the distribution means other selected layers of the successive layers of components repositioned on the third tine conveyor means by the distribution means and for transporting components of the other selected layers of the successive layers of components to a tine conveyor position;
a separating means positioned with the third tine conveyor means for separating the components of the other selected layers of the successive layers of components repositioned on the third tine conveyor means into an arrangement of rows spaced apart to provide for at least one opening in the arrangement of rows to form a tine receiving layer;
a carriage means for transporting the tine receiving layer from the tine conveyor position to the outfeed conveyor position and for positioning the tine receiving layer at the outfeed conveyor position of the second outfeed conveyor means;
and
a transferring means for positioning at least one layer of components including the tine receiving layer for forming an assembly of components including the at least one opening in the tine receiving layer.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.