GB1232422A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1,232,422. Conveying and handling bricks; unloading stacks of articles; grippers for stacks of bricks. PEARNE & LACY MACHINE CO. Inc. 20 May, 1968 [25 Aug., 1967], No. 23973/68. Headings B8A, B8C and B8H. Double layers 16-22 of stacks 12-15 of bricks on trolleys 10 are compacted and lifted successively in groups of four by a gripper assembly 26 which travels on rails 29 and deposits the layers on a table 27, the gripper assembly 26 being rotatable so as to turn alternate groups of layers through 90 degrees. The bricks are conveyed from the table by a pusher bar 56 carried by endless reciprocating chains 63, the leading group of bricks of the layer being pushed on to a conveyer 82. The upper of the double layers of the group is engaged by grippers 96, 97, and is swung over on to a second conveyer 87. The gripper assembly 26.-This is lowered step-by-step by actuators 32 as successive layers are transferred from the stacks. The rotation of the assembly is brought about by the action of an actuator 39, the grippers being mounted on a turn-table 37. Each of four pairs of grippers comprises an actuator 42 slidable in a bearing 46 fixed to the turn-table 37 and carrying one, 47, of the two gripper members 47, 48. The latter is carried by the piston 49 of the actuator 42. Extension of the grippers is limited by fixed stops 50, 52. The grippers 47, 48 carry abutments 47a, 48a, respectively vertically offset. The distance between the gripper 48 and the abutment 47a is greater than that between the abutment 48a and the gripper 47. Thus on energization of the actuator 42, the upper and lower layers of the bricks of the double layer are drawn into abutment and the upper layer bricks are slightly displaced relatively to the lower layer so as to destroy any bonds formed between upper and lower layers doing the firing of the bricks. Also the lower layer is gripped more intensely than is the upper layer. The transfer conveyers.-The pusher bar 56 is supported by carriages 58 which are connected to the conveyer chains 63 driven by a motor 59 and are slidable on respective rails 57. The bar 56 moves to a position 56<SP>1</SP> which thus transfers the layers clear of the space on the table 27 to which the subsequent layers are to be delivered. In order to separate the remaining bricks of the layers from the group of bricks deposited on the conveyer 82, the table 27 is moved rearwardly a small amount by an actuator 83. The transfer of groups of bricks subsequent to the leading groups is effected by pullers 71 which engage the groups at the rearmost end of the layer. The pullers 71 are guided on rails 73 and are driven by reciprocating endless chains 81 driven by a motor 77. The grippers 96, 97 feeding conveyer 87.- These are drawn into gripping engagement by actuators 98. An actuator 89 is connected to a rack 91 which meshes with a sector (92) (Fig. 5, not shown) rigid with an operating shaft 88 for swinging the grippers 96, 97 through 180 degrees. The groups of bricks are taken by the conveyers 82, 87, to be tied in packages.