US3292310A - Apparatus for grinding bricks or the like - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 20, 1966 M. A. LEFEVRE APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BRICKS OR THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 20, 1964 INVENTOR.

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APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BRICKS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 73 FIG. 5s2 52 INVENIOR." MARTIAL A. LEEEVRE BY A f ATT'Y Dec. 20, 1966 M. A. LEFEVRE APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BRICKS OR THE LIKE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb.

INVENTOR.

MARTIAL A. LEFEVRE ATT'Y 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATT'Y Dec. 20, 1966 M. A. LEFEVRE APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BRICKS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1964 k v WEE. 4 won A L 4 m T m v 05 B mo 2 51 M o? 3? ok A 9N N ig oov I wow 9;

m m m\||illll|. Q @OE Dec. 20, 1966 M. A. LEFEVRE APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BRICKS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. MARTIAL A. LEFEV RE ATT'Y Dec. 20, 1966 LEFEVRE 3,292,310

APPARATUS FOR GRINDING BRICKS OR THE LIKE Filed Feb. 20, 1964 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 FIG. 17

INVENTOR. MARTIAL A. LEFEVRE BY Q Al I

ATT'Y United States Patent 3,292,310 APPARATUS FOR GRINDENG BRICKS OR THE LIKE Martial A. Lefevre, Oise, France, assignor, by mesne assignments, to International Diamond Products Limited, Shannon, Ireland, a corporation of Ireland Filed Feb. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 346,339 23 Claims. (Cl. 51-118) The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for grinding bricks or similar -blocklike articles and has particular reference to an apparatus by means of which the surface irregularities that are ordinarily present in connection with building bricks as they issue from the kiln may be rectified and the various faces of the bricks ground with a precision that has heretofore been unattainable economically by conventional brick surfacing apparatus or equipment to the end that each finished brick presents flat and accurately rectangular side and end faces which possess a remarkable degree of smoothness, with the twelve edges of the brick being linearly straight and devoid of burrs or interruptions, with opposite faces of the brick being truly parallel and with all of the rectified or ground bricks being of uniform size.

Bricks which are thus rectified or conditioned are capable of use in the gang forming of wall sections which are themselves of precision dimensions. Due to the high degree of flatness of all six faces of each brick in a gang formed wall section, close proximity of adjacent opposed 'brick faces may be attained with the bricks being separated from one another by a thin layer of a strong bonding agent, for example, an epoxy resin, resulting in an immeasurably stronger bond than when the bricks are bonded by a relatively thick layer of conventional mortar. By having the inside faces of the bricks of the wall sections fiat and coplanar, the usual lath and plaster installation may be omitted and the inside wall surfaces of a building structure thus erected from gang formed wall sections may be brush or spray painted, or otherwise decorated or surfaced directly. By having the outside faces of the bricks of the wall sections flat and coplanar, similar treatment may be resorted to and, additionally, a building constructed of gang formed wall sections according to the present invention will present a finished appearance that is commensurate with standards of modern architecture.

According to the present invention, brick surfacing operations are carried out by means of a novel grinding apparatus which may be comprised of a single surfacing or grinding apparatus which employs rotary grinding wheels and through which the bricks of a given run are successively passed three times, the first pass serving to condition one pair of opposite brick faces, the second pass serving to condition another pair of opposite brick faces, and the third pass serving to condition the third pair of opposite brick faces and comple the brick surfacing operations. When a single surfacing or grinding apparatus is employed, it will be necessary, of course, to effect certain machine adjustments, such adjustments being mainly spacing adjustments of the rotary grinding wheels and spacing adjustments of the brick clamping or holding devices by means of which the bricks are successively carried to and past the grinding wheels, the purpose of the last-mentioned adjustment being to accommodate the different dimensions between the opposite leading and trailing faces of the bricks during the three successive passes through the apparatus.

Alternatively, the apparatus may be comprised of three basically identical brick surfacing or grinding apparatuses which are arranged side-by-side or in series and through which a given run of 'bricks is successively passed. In

"ice

this connection, it is contemplated that the first apparatus will be adjusted to handle bricks which are so oriented that, when passing through the grinding station, one pair of opposite faces of each brick will be operated upon by the rotary grinding wheels. It is also contemplated that transfer means will be provided for conducting the bricks from the first apparatus to the second apparatus, the latter being so conditioned or adjusted as to receive and handle the bricks for presentation of a second pair of opposite faces of each 'brick to the grinding wheels of the second apparatus. Similarly, it is contemplated that transfer means will be provided for conducting the bricks from the second apparatus to the third apparatus, such third apparatus being so conditioned or adjusted as to receive and handle the bricks for presentation of the third and last pair of opposite faces to the grinding wheels at the grinding station of the third apparatus. By utilizing three surfacing or grinding apparatuses, the time and labor incident to effecting change-over operations on a single surfacing or grinding apparatus are eliminated.

Whether the apparatus as a whole involve the use of a single apparatus which must be adjusted for each run of bricks, or plural apparatuses permanently conditioned for successive runs, the essential features of the invention are at all times preserved, one such feature being that after the first pass of a given run of bricks, the two opposite faces which are treated then become reference faces for accurate clamping of the bricks during the next pass, whether in the same or in a different surfacing or grinding apparatus. Similarly, after the second pass of a given run of bricks, the two opposite faces which are treated during such pass become reference faces for accurate clamping of the bricks during the third pass. Stated otherwise, after the first operation upon a brick which may be irregular as to non-parallelism of opposite faces and also as to non-normality of adjacent side faces, two accurately planar and parallel surfaces are established as a basis for grinding of the remaining brick faces to accurate conditions of parallelism and normality.

The provision of a brick grinding apparatus of the character briefly outlined above being among the principal and general objects of the invention, this object is attained by the provisions of one or more apparatuses, each of which embodies a power-driven feed conveyor which receives the bricks at a receiving station and delivers them to a grinding stand where the bricks are processed. The grinding stand includes a rotary drum which receives the bricks from the feed conveyor at a transfer station and conducts the bricks in a securely held manner to a grinding head at a grind ng station Where the bricks pass between the opposed parallel planar sides of at least one pair of rotating grinding wheels which serve to condition the bricks by smoothing and rendering parallel two opposite faces of the bricks. From the grinding station, the bricks are conducted by the drum to a delivery station where they are discharged from the apparatus.

The feed conveyor includes an endless series of articulated traveling brick-supporting trays, each of which is adapted to receive therein one of the bricks to be ground. Releasable brick-supporting means is associated with each tray for holding the associated brick in an approximately oriented position. The feed conveyor is of the endless link type and the rotary drum to which it delivers the bricks includes a series of brick-receiving cradles. The cradles of the drum are provided with brick-clamping means which serve fixedly to secure the bricks within the pockets of the cradles during passage of the bricks between the rotating grinding wheels at the grinding station.

The movements of the feed conveyor and the cradle- J equipped drum are correlated so that successive trays arriving at the transfer station may deliver their bricks to successive cradles on the drum arriving in synchronism at such station. The operation of the brick-supporting means on the trays and the clamping mechanisms on the cradles is also correlated so that substantially at the same time that the brick-supporting means of a given tray at the transfer station releases a brick to open" the tray and discharge the brick, the clamping mechanism of the corresponding drum cradle in register with the tray seizes the brick, thus closing the cradle uponthe brick and capturing the same. The thus captured brick, rigidly positioned in the particular cradle, is conducted by the cradle through the grinding station and, after two opposite faces thereof have been conditioned, the brick is conducted to the discharge station where the cradle is caused to open and release the brick to a power-driven discharge conveyor.

In order to align the bricks accurately with the space existing between the two rotating grinding wheels at the grinding station, a fixed centering station is provided between the transfer station and the grinding station. The bricks which are transferred from the powerdriven feed conveyor to the rotary drum of the grinding stand are thus caused to pass through the centering station. At this station, two centering shoes on opposite sides of the bricks and in associated relation with a brick centering device are caused to engage the adjacent brick faces and thus forcethe bricks to accurately centered positions in circumferential register with the space existing between the two grinding wheels at the grinding station which lies ahead of the centering station. Engagement of the bricks by the centering shoes is only momentary and, thereafter, the clamping mechanisms that are associated with the drum cradles rigidly maintain the bricks thus centered during their passage to and through the grinding station, as well as thereafter and until such time as the bricks are discharged from the drum.

The operation of the brick-supporting trays that are associated with and form a part of the feed conveyor is purely mechanical, novel cam means, including fixed cam tracks on the conveyor frame and cooperating movable cam fingers on the endless conveyor proper, being provided for effecting opening and closing movements of the various trays. The brick-clamping mechanisms that are associated with the rotary drum are hydraulically operated, a novel system of trip fingers and stops being provided on the drum-supporting structure and the drum respectively for effecting proper timing of the drum cradle opening and closing movements.

The provision of a brick grinding apparatus of .the character briefly outlined above being the principal object of the invention, numerous other objects not at this time enumerated due to their manifold and varied nature will become readily apparent as the following description ensues. These ancillary objects are, in the main, concerned with novel assemblies and sub-assemblies associated with the apparatus such as feed conveyor and drum mountings, brick-receiving and retaining cradle and tray assemblies, correlation and timing of the movements of the cradle and tray assemblies, the centering device and its correlation with the feed conveyor and the drum, facilities for machine adjustment for accommodating bricks having different spacings of opposite faces, hydraulic circuitry, and other novel features too numerous to enumerate.

With such objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying six sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a brick grinding apparatus constructed according to the principles of the present invention and involving a feed conveyor for conducting bricks to a grinding machine proper forming a part of the apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken FIG. 7 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a circuit diagram of the hydraulic control mechanism for controlling the opening and closing movements of certain brick-conveying cradles that are employed in connection with the invention;

FIG. 9 is a circuit .diagram of the hydraulic control mechanism for controlling the opening and closing move ments of a pair of brick-centering shoes that are employed in connection with the invention;

FIG. 10 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 1010 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10a is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 10a10a of FIG. 10;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 1111 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the brick centering device;

FIG..13 is a perspective view, entirely schematic in its representation, showing a brick which is to :be operated upon by the apparatus of the present invention and illustrating the orientational relationship of its side and end faces with relation to the grinding head during successive passes of the brick through the apparatus;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram further illustratingthe orientational relationship between the brick and the.

grinding head during an initial pass of the brick through the apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram illustrating the orientational relationship of a brick with respect to the grin-ding head during the first pass of the brick through the appa ratus;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram, similar to FIG. 15, but

illustrating the orientational relationship during the second pass of the brick through the grindinghead of the apparatus; and

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram, similar to FIGS. 14 and 15, but illustrating the orientational relationship of a brick with respect to the grinding head during the third or final pass of the bricks through the apparatus. 7

BRIEF DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings in detail and in particular to FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, wherein a preferred form of brick-grinding apparatus constructed according to the present invention has been illustrated, the apparatus involves in its general organization a power-drivenfeed conveyor 10 which extends between a brick-receiving station R and a brick-transfer station T. At the transfer station T, the bricks are transferred from thefeed conveyor 10 to a grinding machine proper 12 including a brick-clamping conveyor in the form of arotary powerdriven drum 14 by means of which the, bricks are conducted through a centering station C to a grinding station G and from thence to a discharge station D where the bricks are discharged onto an endless power-drivenconveyor 16 by means of which the bricks are conducted from the apparatus as a whole.

As will be described in greater detail presently, the power-drivenfeed conveyor 10 is provided with a series of articulated brick-supporting and transportingtrays 18 which transport the bricks from the receiving station R to the transfer station T. At the transfer station, thetrays 18 are automatically manipulated into an open position in order to discharge the bricks by gravity. The rotary power-drivendrum 14 is provided with a series of articulated brick-receiving and dampingcradles 20. Thedrum 14 and the feed conveyor are driven in timed relationship so that the cradles arrive at the transfer station T in correlation with thetrays 18,successive trays 18 arriving at such station being met by a correspondingcradle 20. Upon successive arrival at the transfer station T, thetrays 18 become automatically open to release the bricks carried thereby so that they may be discharged by gravity into thecradles 20 which arrive at the transfer station in an open condition. As soon as a brick is thus received in a givencradle 20, the cradle automatical ly becomes closed in order securely to seize the brick and conduct the same to the centering station C. The empty andopen trays 18 return to the receiving station R and, immediately prior to arrival thereat, they again become closed for repetitious reception of bricks at such station.

Meanwhile, thecradles 20 on thedrum 14 proceed successively from the transfer station T to the centering station, at which station a pair ofcoacting centering shoes 22 forming parts of a centeringdevice 24 closes upon the opposite sides of the successive bricks on their associatedcradle 20 and circumferentially aligns the bricks with two spaced apartrotary grinding wheels 25 which are disposed at the grinding station G and constitute the abrasive grinding elements of a grindingstand 26. The bricks then pass between the grindingwheels 25 which operate upon one pair of opposite faces of each brick and, thereafter, from the grinding station G, the bricks are conducted to the discharge station D where thecradles 20 automatically become open to discharge the bricks onto theconveyor 16.

The bricks which are thus discharged onto theconveyor 16 will each have one pair of opposite faces rendered smooth and planar, and what is equally important, truly parallel to each other. These two conditioned faces of each brick may then constitute accurate reference faces for further brick conditioning operations when the thus preliminarily treated bricks are passed through the grinding apparatus during subsequent runs, as will be described in detail subsequently.

THE FEED CONVEYOR Thefeed conveyor 10 is of the endless link type and comprises identical functional link components which are connected together in end-to-end relationship for travel in a closed path including a feed reach section 27 (see FIG. 4) and areturn reach section 28; At the ends of theconveyor 10 the link components pass around driving and drivensprocket wheels 29 and 30. Theconveyor 10 is of the horizontal pass type in that its driving and driven sprocket wheels rotate in respective horizontal planes, both reach sections being elevated above thefloor 31 of the establishment wherein the grinding apparatus is located. The individual link components are designated by thereference numeral 32, and these components are guided in their endless path of travel byconveyor rails 33 in the usual manner of conveyor link travel. In the medial region of theconveyor 10 and as shown in FIG. 1, the conveyor rails 33 are inclined in order that the rear end of the conveyor is higher than is the front end thereof, the rear end overlying the grinding machine proper 12 at the transfer station T.

While the details of the individualconveyor link oomponents 32 remain the same in any case, the effective contour of theconveyor 10 may be varied in order to accommodate different kinds or types of installations. The function of theconveyor 10 is to transfer bricks from a stockpile or source of such bricks to the grinding machine proper 12 and, thus, under certain circumstances, it may be necessary to employ a conveyor of great effective length, especially if the grinding machine proper 12 is located an appreciable distance from the stockpile of bricks. The conveyor may be linearly straight or it may have curves or bends, as, for example, when the stockpile is disposed in a different room or enclosure from the grinding machine proper, or when an intervening object or machine requires such curves of bends. Irrespective, however, of the particular contour of theconveyor 10, the essential features of the invention are not altered.

In the exemplary form ofconveyor 10 illustrated herein, the drivingsprocket wheel 29 is rotatably supported in asuperstructure 34 which forms a part of the stationary conveyor framework, the superstructure being in turn supported byvertical posts 35 from amasonry base 36 on thefloor 31. Therotary drum 14 of the grinding machine proper 12 is mounted on ahorizontal shaft 38 which is supported inbearings 40 on themasonry base 36. The drivingsprocket wheel 29 of the feed conveyor is mounted on the upper end of avertical drive shaft 42. The lower end of such shaft is operatively connected in driven relationship through agear box 44 and an articulated oruniversal coupling 45 to thehorizontal shaft 38. Theshaft 38 is operatively driven from an electric motor M through agear reduction device 46 in the form of a conventional speed change transmission having acontrol handle 48 by means of which the speed ratio drive may be varied at will. It will be seen, therefore, that the brick feed conveyor and therotary drum 14 are operatively connected in driving relationship for movement in unison for purposes that will be made clear presently. The lower front end of theconveyor 10 which embodies the drivensprocket wheel 30 is operatively supported on standards orposts 50 forming a part of the conveyor framework.

Thevarious link components 32 are identical and each includes acarriage 52 which is slidable on the conveyor rails 33 (see FIG. 5) and from the lower end of which there depends alug 54. A downwardly extending swinging tray-supportingarm 56 is pivotally connected at its upper end to each of thelugs 54 and the lower end of the arm serves removably to support one of the composite articulated brick-supporting and transportingtrays 18. One of the articulated brick-supporting and transportingtrays 18 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 10 and 11 and will be fully described presently.

Swinging movements of the tray-supportingarms 56 are restrained and limited by means of a series of curved hook-like fingers 62 which are connected to and depend from thecarriages 52, cooperate with fixed laterally extendingpins 64 on the medial regions of thearms 56, and limit the extent of swinging movement of the arms in one direction. Thepins 64 are also designed for cooperation with fixed cam rails 66 and 68 which are positioned in their path of movement, thecam rail 66 being positioned ahead of thecam rail 68 and underlying the inner region of the horizontal rear end of the feed conveyor, and thecam rail 68 being disposed above thedrum 14. Thecam rail 66 serves to retract or swing upwardly thevarious arms 56 as they approach the transfer station T and cause thetrays 18 that are supported thereby to make accurate register with the series of articulated brick-receiving and transportingcradles 20 which are mounted on the periphery of thedrum 14 and arrive at the transfer station T in correlation with thetrays 18. Thecam rail 68 extends horizontally and serves to elevate thetrays 18 after they have discharged their respective bricks and deposited them in thecradles 20.

The effective diameter of thedrum 14, the effective diameter of the drivingsprocket wheel 29, and the gear ratio drive which obtains through thegear box 44 are such that precisely at the time that one of thecradles 20 arrives at the transfer station T, atray 18 arrives at this station to transfer its brick to thesubjacent cradle 20. Thetrays 18 arrive at the transfer station T in a closed condition, while thecradles 20 arrive at the transfer station in an open condition. To effect the transfer of bricks from thetrays 18 to thecradles 20, interengaging means on thetrays 18 and thecradles 20 become effective to cause thetrays 18 to become open so that the latter discharge their bricks by gravity into thecradles 20. At substantially the same time that thetrays 18 become open, interengaging means on thecradles 20 and a fixed portion of the drum framework become eflective to close the cradles upon the deposited bricks in order thus securely to clamp the bricks and conduct them in succession to the grinding station where they are rigidly held during passage thereof between the two spaced apart grindingwheels 25.

The articulatedbrick conveying trays 18 Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 11,. each of thebrick transporting trays 18 involves in its general organization acrosshead 100 from which there projects laterally from one side thereof acentral spindle 102. From the other side of thecrosshead 100, there project laterally two spaced apart jaw-supportingspindles 104 and 106 and they carry opposed brick-confiningjaws 108 and 110, respectively. The twoopposed jaws 108 and 110 depend from thespindles 104 and 106 and are movable back and forth between the open position in which they are shown in dotted lines in FIG. 10 and the closed full-line position thereof. The lower end of each jaw carries a shelf-like tray section 112 including abottom wall 114, aside wall 116, and anend wall 118. When the twojaws 108 and 110 of eachtray 18 are in their closed position, thebottom walls 114 of thetray sections 112 are adapted to underlie the side edges of a brick which is supported within thetray 18 with the brick being supported by gravity upon such bottom walls and with theend walls 118 abutting or at least in register with the trailing end wall of the brick. In the open position of each tray wherein thejaws 108 and 110 are in their open position, the twotray sections 112 clear the lower side edges of the brick so that the latter. may fall by gravity from the tray and be thus transferred to a cooperating cradle at the transfer station T in a manner that will be made clear presently.

Normally, thejaws 108 and 110 of eachtray 18 are yieldingly maintained in their open position by a helical tension spring 120, the ends of which are connected bylinks 122 to upstanding lugs orextensions 124 on the twoopposed jaws 108 and 110. A horizontally extending limit stop bar 126 is secured to the crosshead and has its ends designed for engagement withadditional extensions 128 on the two jaws. The bar 126 and theextensions 128 coact to determine the fully open position of the two jaws.

Meansyare provided for releasably latching thejaws 108 and of eachtray 18 in their closed position, such means comprising a pair of inwardly extending oppositely directedlatch arms 130 and 132 on thejaws 108 and 110, respectively. Thelatch arm 130 is pivoted as at 131 to thejaw 108 and is formed with ahook portion 134 which is designed for latching engagement with a horizontally and laterally extendinglatch pin 136 on thelatch arm 132 when the jaws are in their closed position. A dependingguide shoe 138 is formed on thelatch arm 130 and has aguide surface 140 which is designed for engagement with thelatch pin 136 and serves to guide the same into thehook portion 134 during closing movement of the twojaws 108 and 110.

In order to stabilize the movements of the twojaws 108 and 110 of each tray so that when the jaws are in their closed position, the bricks that are carried thereby will be centered beneath thecrosshead 100, two substantiallyhorizontal toggle links 142 are provided. The toggle links extend outwards in opposite directions and have their outer ends pivotally connected to short extensions or lugs 143 on thejaws 108 and 110, respectively. The inner ends of the toggle links are pivotally connected to the.

ends of a substantiallyvertical toggle bar 144 which is pivoted medially of its ends as at 146 to thecrosshead 100. The toggle links 142 are of equal efiective length and serve to equalize the movements of the twojaws 108 and 110 during opening and closing thereof.

Theguide shoe 138 of eachtray 18, in addition to guid-. ing thepin 136 into latching engagement with thehook portion 134 of the latch arm 13%, also serves as a trip element for releasing the latch means or mechanism which holds the twojaws 108 and 110 in their closed position. In such capacity as a trip element, theguide shoe 138 is adapted to be engaged by a cooperatingtrip finger 148 in associated relation with one of thecradles 20 at such time as thetray 18 arrives at the transfer station T so that the tray will assume its open position and discharge the brick carried thereby to the cooperating orunderlying cradle 20, all in a manner that will be made clear when the nature of thedrum 14 and its associated brick-conveyingcradles 20 is better understood.

The lower ends of the twojaws 108 and 110 of eachtray 18 carry on their outer side portionsindividual rollers 150, the latter being rotatably supported inbrackets 152 which are suitably secured to the jaws and project outwards therefrom. The rollers are designed for camming engagement with two convergingrail sections 154 which are suitably supported on a fixed base 155 (see FIG. 1) adjacent to the receiving station R. As theopen trays 18 successively approach the receiving station R as shown at the left-hand side of FIG. 1, the rollers 150'enter between the tworail sections 154, thus forcing the lower ends of thejaws 108 and 110 inwardly toward each other to close the jaws and cause thelatch arms 130 and 132 to become engaged and maintain the trays in their closed condition preparatory to receiving bricks at the receiving station R. It is contemplated an operator will be stationed at the station R and that he or she will manually place bricks in the closed trays as they move successively past said station.

THE GRINDING MACHINE PROPER Thedrum 14 Referring now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the grinding machine proper 12 includes thedrum 14, the centeringdevice 24, and the grindingstand 26. Thedrum 14, as previously stated, is generally of cylindrical or disc-like design and is supported upon thehorizontal shaft 38 which is rotatably mounted in thebearings 40 on themasonry base 36. It comprises a pair of spaced apart generallycircular side plates 200 having formed therein access opening 202 which are normally closed by means of removable cover plates 204 (see FIG. 6). A cylindrical peripheral wall 201 (see FIG. 7) extends between the twoside plates 200. An annular series ofradial gusset webs 206 in the central region of eachside plate 200 serves to reinforce and strengthen the side plate. The various articulated brickreceiving and transportingcradles 20 are mounted on the periphery of thedrum 14 at equally and circumferentially spaced regions therearound, eight such cradles being disclosed in the illustrated form of the invention, although it will be understood that a greater or lesser number of such cradles may be employed if desired. Articulation of these cradles is effected under the control of an hydraulic system which subsequently will be described and the details of which are illustrated in FIG. 8. For the present, it is deemed sufiicient to state that this hydraulic system includes a series of eight piston andcylinder assemblies 210, one for each cradle, a series of eightdirectional control valves 212, one for each piston and cylinder assembly, and a series of eighthigh pressure accumulators 214, one for each piston and cylinder assembly. An additionallow pressure accumulator 216 is also included in the aforementioned hydraulic system and the function of such accumulator will be made clear presently. All of these hydraulic instrumentalities, together with the piping and other fluid connections therefor, are operatively installed on the drum and assume positions within the space existing between the twoside plates 200.

The articulatedbrick conveying cradles 20 and actuating means therefor Still referring to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, wherein the details of the articulated brick-supporting and conveying cradles are best shown, thevarious cradles 20 are removably mounted on the periphery of thedrum 14 and each cradle involves in its general organization twoside plates 220 which straddle the drum and are connected bybolts 222 to thedrum side plates 200. The twoside plates 220 of each cradle are identical and the leading end regions thereof are formed with fixed substantially radially extendingfingers 224, the outer ends of which have pivoted thereto spider-like jaw elements I225. Each jaw element is provided with a pair of outwardly divergent members at the outer ends thereof having resilient brick-engaging clamping strips 226?. So far :as eachcradle 20 is concerned, thejaw elements 225, together with theradially extending fingers 224, constitute, in effect, a fixedcomposite reaction jaw 227 that is designed for engagement with the leading region of a brick in the cradle. Theouter edges 22% of theside plates 220 of each cradle are linearly straight and constitute, in effect, a cradle bottom on which a brick, such as the brick shown at B in FIG. 7, is adapted to be supported with the brick bridging the distance between the two side plates and overhanging the latter at the sides thereof. Each cradle also comprises a composite movable jaw 260 in the form of twoside arms 232, the inner ends of which are pivoted on apin 234. The latter extends between theside plates 226 and supportsthemovable jaws 230 so that it is capable of swinging movement toward and away from the fixedjaw 227 between open and closed positions as shown in full and dotted lines respectively in FIG. 6. The outer ends of theside arms 232 are provided with pivotedjaw elements 235 which are substantially indentical with thejaw elements 225.

The inner ends of theside arms 232 of eachmovable cradle jaw 230 are provided withextensions 236 the distal ends of which are provided with longitudinally extendingslots 238. Theseextensions 236 constitute actuating levers for eachmovable jaw 230 and the slots 23S receive therein horizontally extendingpins 240 which are connected to and extend outwards from the distal ends of a pair ofarms 242. Each pair ofarms 242 is mounted on ahorizontal rock shaft 244 which extends between =and through the side plates 260 of thedrum 14. Acrank arm 246 has one end thereof fixedly secured to eachrock shaft 244. The other ends of thecrank arms 246 are pivotally connected toplungers 248 which are fixedly connected to the pistons of the piston andcylinder assemblies 210. Thecylinder 250 of each piston andcylinder assembly 216 is pivot-ally connected at one end thereof to the drum 14- by means of a horizontally extendingcross shaft 252 which extends between the twodium side plates 200.

From the above description, it will be seen that when theplungers 248 are retracted Within the cylinders 251 as shown in full lines at the left-hand side of FIG. 6, themovable jaws 230 will assume their retracted position wherein thecradles 20 may be said to be in their open condition. When the plungers are in their extended dotted-line position as shown at the left-hand side of FIG. 6 and as shown in full lines at the righthand side of this view, themovable jaws 230 will be swung toward the fixedjaws 224 for brick-clamping purposes and each cradle 20- may be said to be in its closed condition.

Hydraulic control of the articulated cradles 20 Referring now to FIG. 8 of the drawings, afixed source 300 of fluid under pressure communicates through leadout and returnlines 302 and 304 with first andsecond pressure chambers 306 and 308, respectively. These pressure chambers are in the form of relatively deep sockets which are formed in the ends of the rotary drum-supportingshaft 38. The connections between thelines 302 and .304 and thepressure chambers 306 and 308 are effected by means of suitable rotarymechanical seals 310.

A local hydraulic control circuit is provided for each of the eightcradles 24 one of the eight circuits being schematically illustrated in FIG. 8. This circuit extends from thepressure chamber 306 through afluid line 312 to one of thedirectional control valves 212 through theinlet port 314 thereof. Thisvalve 212 is in the form of a three-way directional valve in which themovable valve element 316 thereof is capable of selectively assuming three different positions under the control of anactuating finger 318. These three positions are labelled 1, 2 and 3 in FIG. 8 and include :a first or #1 position wherein theinlet port 314 is connected to a common port 328-; a second or #2 position wherein thecommon port 320 is closed; and a third or #3 position wherein thecommon port 320 is connected to :anoutlet port 322.

Thecommon port 320 is connected through aline 324 to one end of one of thecylinders 250 of one of the piston and cylinder assemblies 219. The other end of thecylinder 250 is connected through a branch fluid line 626 to adistribution manifold 328. Thefluid line 324 is connected through a three-way fitting orT 329 to one of thepressure accumulators 214. Thedistribution manifold 328 is connected through a single fluid line 334) to thepressure chamber 306 and apressure regulator 332 is interposed in theline 330. Theoutlet port 322 of thevalve 212 is connected through afluid line 334 to thepressure chamber 308. The manifold 328 also is connected to the pressure chamber 30-3 through asingle fluid line 336 having apressure regulator 338 interposed therein. Thedistribution manifold 328 is fed by thesingle pressure accumulator 216 through aline 340.

It is to be noted in connection with the hydraulic oircuit diagram of FIG. 8 that two broken line polygonal enclosures appear in this view. These enclosures are designated at A and B, respectively. All of the components which are included within the enclosure A are eig-htfold components, there being one for eachcradle 20. The components which are included in the rectangle B are single components.

Hydraulic timing cam controls Referring again to FIG. 5, the various actuatingfingers 318 of the eightdirectional control valves 212, in following their common circular path of movement during rotation of thedrum 14 make successive engagement with three circumferentially spaced fixedcontrol cams 350, 352 and 354. These fixed control cams are fixedly mounted on a suitable support (not shown) and are disposed exteriorly of thedrum 14 and in the path of movement of the various actuatingfingers 318. Said support preferably constitutes a portion of the drum-supporting framework.

The cam 351} constitutes a cradle-closing cam inasmuch as when one of the actuatingfingers 318 engages it, the associateddirectional control valve 212 is actuated in such a manner as to institute closing movements of its respective or associated articulatedcradle 20. This cam is so positioned with respect to the drum that it will be engaged by one of the actuatingfingers 318 at approximately the time that its associated open cradle arrives at the transfer station T and receives a brick therein by deposition from one of the trays 13.

Thecam 352 is so positioned with respect to the drum that it will be engaged by one of the actuatingfingers 318 at approximately the time that its associated closed cradle 2t) arrives at the centering station C. Its function at this 1 1 time is to actuate the adjacentdirectional control valve 212 in such a manner that holding fluid under pressure is applied to themovable jaw 230 of the associated cradle, such holding fluid under pressure being supplied by the associated high-pressure pressure accumulator 214.

Thecam 354 is a cradle-opening cam and is so positioned with respect to thedrum 14 that it will be engaged by one of the actuatingfingers 318 at approximately the time that its associatedcradle 20 arrives at the discharge station D. Its function is to actuate the adjacentdirectional valve 212 in such a manner as to institute cradleopening movements to the end that the brick which has been operated upon at the grinding station G and is carried by thecradle 20 will be discharged by gravity onto thedischarge conveyor 16.

To attain the above-stated aims, the control cam 350, when engaged by one of the actuatingfingers 318, serves to move themovable valve element 316 of the associateddirectional control valve 212 to its previously described first position, so labelled in FIG. 8. When engaged by anactuating finger 318, thecontrol cam 352 serves to move the associatedmovable valve element 316 to its second position. When engaged by afinger 318, thethird control cam 354 serves to move thevalve element 316 to its third position.

The hydraulic functions which take place with the eightmovable valve elements 316 in their respective aforementioned first, second and third positions will be set forth in detail subsequently when the operation of the subject brick grinding apparatus is set forth hereafter.

The centeringdevice 24 The centeringdevice 24 is disposed at the centering station C and is provided for the purpose of centering the bricks which have been transferred to thecradles 20 from thetrays 18 so that their center lines will lie in the medial plane of thedrum 14, and what is more important, so that they will become circumferentially aligned with the medial plane passing between the twogrinding wheels 25 at the grinding station G. With the bricks thus centered, the abrasive work performed by the grinding wheels will be equalized and each wheel will remove an approximately equal amount of material from the faces of the bricks on which it operates.

The centeringdevice 24 is best illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 12 and the hydraulic control circuit by means of which it is actuated is shown in FIG. 9. Referring now to FIG. 5, the centeringdevice 24 is carried on a laterally projectingshelf 360 which, in turn, is supported from the aforementionedvertical posts 35. Thedevice 24 includes a support in the form of an outer housing or casing 362 which is of rectangular box-like design and within which there is disposed a pair of oppositely disposed coacting pivotedrocker arms 364 and 366 (see FIG. 12). Certain opposed end portions of the rocker arms are pivoted on spaced apart vertically extendingpins 370 and 372,re spectively, in order that they are permitted to swing towards and away from each other under the control of a piston andcylinder assembly 374. The latter comprises a horizontally disposedcylinder 376 which is pivoted at one end to therocker arm 364, and aplunger 378 which has one end thereof connected to the piston of theassembly 374 and its other end pivoted to therocker arm 366. The movements of the two rocker arms are equalized by means of a pin andslot connection 380 which exists between laterally extending lugs orextensions 380 and 382 on therocker arms 364 and 366, respectively. The proximal ends of therocker arms 364 and 366 have connected theretojaw extensions 384 and 386 and they carry at their outer ends the previously mentioned centeringshoes 22 which oppose each other on opposite sides of thedrum 14 and are designed for centering engagement with the adjacent opposite faces of successive bricks passing through the centering station C and carried by thecradles 20. Theshoes 22 are provided with resilient lining strips 12 392. Ahelical tension spring 394 is connected at its ends to the tworocker arms 364 and 366, thus drawing these two arms together to retract theplunger 378 and spread the centeringshoes 22 apart so that they assume their fully open position for entry of the successive bricks.

therebetween.

Hydraulic control circuit for actuating the centeringdevice 24 Referring now to FIGS.5 and 9, the centeringdevice 24 is operable under the control of a directional reversingvalve 400 which is suitably fixedly supported in the path of movement of a series of eighttrip cams 402. The lat-.

ter are positioned in circumferentially spaced relationship on one of theside plates 200 of thedrum 14, there being onetrip cam 402 for each of thecradles 20. Saidtrip cams 402 are designed for engagement with a pivotedactuating finger 404 in associated relation with the direc-vtional reversing valve 400.

Thevalve 400 is a simple two-way reversing valve in which themovable valve element 406 thereof is capable of assuming first and second positions, labelled, respectively, 1 and 2 in FIG. 9. Themovable valve element 406 and theactuating finger 404 are spring-biased to the normal first position wherein fluid under pressure is permitted to flow from asump 408 through afluid line 410, a motor-drivenpump 412, aline 414, thevalve element 406, and aline 416 to one end of thecylinder 376 of the centeringdevice 24 in order to retract the plunger 378 (see FIG. 9) and thus maintain the centering shoes '22 in their spaced apart or open relationship. During move.

ment of theplunger 378 to its retracted position, fluid under pressure is returned to thesump 408 by way of afiuid line 418, thevalve element 406 and aline 420. Such.

movement of the plunger is assisted by the action of the aforementionedhelical spring 394. I

Upon engagement of theactuating finger 404 of the directional reversingvalve 400 by one of thetrip cams 402, themovable valve element 406 will be moved to its second position and fluid under pressure will flow from p thesump 408, through theline 410, thepump 412,,the

line 414, themovable valve element 406, and the.line 418 to the other end ofcylinder 376 to extend theplunger 378 and thus cause the centeringshoes 22 to close upon and the centeringshoes 22 is of but slight duration, the

centeringshoes 22 serving merely to tap, so to speak,

the adjacent opposite faces of the adjacent brick, thus causing the brick to slide sidewise with respect to thedrum 14, the clamping elements on the pivotedjaw elements 225 and 235 of the adjacent cradle allowing such sidewise movement of said adjacent brick so that it will be brought into centered relationship with the medial plane of thedrum 14 and into circumferential alignment with the grindingwheels 25 as previously described. After the centering operation, the two centeringshoes 22 return to their normal widely separated position, thus releasing the adjacent centered brick for passage to the grinding station G.

The grindingstand 26 Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 3, the grindingstand 26 at the grinding station G includes a fixedbase support 450, the upper face of which provides an elongated dovetail guideway 452 within which there is slidably disposed a pair of mountingcarriages 454 and 456. Thecarriage 454 has mounted thereon abearing support 458 for thehorizontal drive shaft 460 of one of the two spaced apart grindingwheels 25, while thecarriage 456 has mounted thereon a similar bearing support 462 for the horizontal drive shaft 464 of the other grinding wheel. Thecarriage 454 further serves to support an electric motor M1 which is operatively connected in driving relationship to thedrive shaft 460 by way of a belt 13 andpulley arrangement 466. Theother grinding wheel 25 is similarly driven from an electric motor M2 on thecarriage 456.

The twocarriages 454 and 456 are capable of horizontal adjustment toward and away from each other to vary the effective distance between the twogrinding wheels 25 and, accordingly, these two carriages are operatively connected together by way of an elongated horizontally extendingworm shaft 48% which has its medial portions supported in abearing block 482 and embodies oppositely threadedend portions 484 and 486. The latter are threadedly received in the bearing supports 458 and 462, respectively. Theworm shaft 48% is provided with a hand wheel 490 by means of which it may be manually turned in either direction to vary the distance between the twocarriages 454 and 456, and consequently, between the operative working faces of the twogrinding wheels 25.

The grindingstand 26 is so positioned with respect to thedrum 14 that the twogrinding wheels 25 are centered with relation to the medial plane of the drum, which is to say,'that the respective and effective grinding planes of the twogrinding wheels 25 are equally spaced on opposite sides of the medial plane of the drum.

If desired, there may be additional pairs of powerdriven grinding wheels at the grindingstand 26. If, for example, there are two pairs of grinding wheels, the wheels of the first brick-encountered pair may be constructed to effect a quick coarse grind and the wheels of the second brick-encountered pair may be designed or constructed to produce a fine grind.

OPERATION OF THE APPARATUS The operation of the herein described brick grinding apparatus will be facilitated by reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 in conjunction with the other views of the drawings, particularly FIGS. 1 and 5. The disclosure of FIGS. 13 and 14 is purely schematic, little attention to the specific details of the feed conveyor and the drum being given. In these views, the positional relationship between the feed conveyor and the grinding machine proper 12 including thedrum 14 and the grindingwheels 25 has been illustrated with particular reference to the positional relationship of a representative brick B undergoing treatment in the apparatus, this brick being of enlarged proportions and disposed above its path of travel along thefeed conveyor 10. 7

According to the present invention, an operator such as theoperator O of FIG. 1 will be positioned at the receivingstation R for the purpose of feeding the bricks B, one at a time, to thesuccessive trays 18 passing through this station. Thetrays 18 having, as previously described, been operated upon by the convergingrail sections 154 immediately prior to their entry into the receiving station R, are in their closed condition at the time they arrive at the receiving station in order that the bricks may be placed upon thebottom walls 114 of thetray sections 112 and caused to rest thereon with the bricks being loosely confined between theopposed side walls 116 as best shown in FIG. 10.

The exemplary brick B that is shown in triplicate and in enlarged form in FIG. 13 is in the form of a hexahedron of generally rectangular design and has a long dimension or length I, an intermediate length dimension or width w, and a short dimension or height h. The brick B is shown in each of three positions of orientation which it assumes for three successive passes through the apparatus. In the oriented position of the brick shown in this view for the first run, the. brick resents upper and lower side faces a and b, side faces cand d, and end faces e and f.

In order accurately to grind the various faces of each brick B to true planar condition and rectangular proportions, it is necessary to conduct each run of bricks through the apparatus three times, the first pass serving to condition the side faces 0 and d, the second pass serv- 14 ing to condition the side faces a and b, and the third pass serving to condition the end faces 2 and 1.

During the first pass, the bricks B will be successively placed by the operator 0 in thetrays 18 and with the bottom side faces b resting on thebottom walls 114 of thetray sections 112 and with the end faces e leading the trailing end faces 7 in the direction of movement of the trays from the receiving station R to the transfer station T. The bricks B will progress along thefeed reach section 27 of thefeed conveyor 10 in the manner indicated in FIGS. 1 and 14 and arrive at the transfer station T in an approximately horizontal position.

Due to the correlated drive between thefeed conveyor 10 and thedrum 14, simultaneous arrival of the brickcontaining trays 13 and theempty cradles 20 at the transfer station T will take place, a closed brick-laden tray 18 on thefeed conveyor 10 overlying an openempty cradle 29 on thedrum 14. Precise timing movements are maintained so that substantially at the time that this superposed relationship between a particular tray and a particular associated cradle obtains, theupstanding trip finger 148 that is associated with the cradle will engage and move upwards the superjacent guide shoe 133 on the particular tray (see FIG. 10), thus releasing the cooperating interlockedlatch arms 130 and 132 and allowing the spring 120 to open thejaws 108 and of said particular tray, thus releasing the brick and causing the same to be deposited in the associatedopen cradle 20 therebeneath. This transfer of a brick from one of thetrays 18 to an associated or cooperatingcradle 20 is best illustrated in FIG. 5 in the upper central regions of this view.

As soon as the aforementioned brick B has been deposited in the aforementionedparticular cradle 20,the associated valve-actuatingfinger 318 will move into engagement with the fixed control cam 350 (see FIG. 5), thus actuating the associated directional control valve 212 (see FIGS. 6 and 8) in such a manner as to supply fluid under pressure to the associatedcylinder 250 and extend theplunger 248 of the associated piston andcylinder assembly 210 in such manner that the associatedcrank arm 246 is actuated in a direction to swing the movable jaw member 239 toward the fixedreaction jaw 227 and clamp the brick B therebetween.

Actual brick seizure by the twocomposite jaws 230 and 227 of eachcradle 20 is effected by the pivoted spider-like jaw elements 235 and 225 each of which straddles an upper transverse edge of the brick with one corresponding set of resilient clamping strips 226 engaging the upper face a of the brick and with the other set of corresponding resilient clamping strips 226 engaging the leading and trailing vertical end faces e and f of the brick. Such engagement of the brick is illustrated in FIG. 5 wherein the five cradles 2G existing at and between the centering station C and the discharge station Dare shown as being in their closed brick-clamping position.

Bricks issuing from the kiln are posssessed of numerous irregularities. Frequently, the side faces of a brick are non-rectangular; opposite faces are out-of-parallel; adjacent faces are at either obtuse or acuate inclinations; the faces are non-planar; and burrs and other irregularities are present on the various faces of the brick, particularly along the edge regions of the brick. The pivotedspiderlike jaw elements 235 and 225 insure firm gripping of a given brick irrespective of such abnormal shape characteristics.

From the transfer station T, thecradles 20 move toward the centering station C, while at the same time, thetrays 18 are swung to an out-of-the-way position by means of thecam rail 68 which is successively engaged by the laterally extendingpins 64 on the supportingarms 54. As soon as a givencradle 20 arrives at the centering station C, a corresponding trip earn 402 (see FIG. 5) engages theactuating finger 404 of the reversing valve 400 (see FIG. 9) and actuates the valve in such a manner that fluid under pressure is conducted to the cylinder 376 (see also FIG. 12) to extend theplunger 378 and effect closing movements of the two centeringshoes 22 in the manner previously described. The centering shoes 22 engage the adjacent opposite faces of the brick and center the brick with respect to the medial plane of thedrum 14, thus circumferentially aligning the brick with the twogrinding wheels 25 at the grinding station G. As soon as theaforementioned trip cam 402 releases theactuating finger 404, the latter is restored to its normal position and the centeringshoes 22 automatically return to their positions of max'unum separation.

The thus centered bricks are then conducted past the grinding station G where they pass between the twogrinding wheels 25 and have their adjacent opposite faces operated upon by the opposed planar circular surfaces of the grinding wheels. Due to the centering action which is efl'ected immediately prior to arrival of the bricks at the grinding station, the work that is performed by the two grinding wheels will be substantially equalized with neither adjacent brick face presenting an undue amount of grinding wheel overhang suflicient to cause damage to either the grinding wheels or the bricks.

It is to be noted at this point that at such time as aparticular cradle 20 arrives at the centering station G, theactuating finger 318 of the associateddirectional control valve 212 has moved out of engagement with the control cam 350 and into engagement with the control cam 352 (see FIG. This latter control cam serves to move thefinger 318 in such manner as to shift themovable valve element 316 of said associated valve from its #1 position to its #2 position as labelled in FIG. 8. In the #2 position of theelement 316, thepressure accumulator 214 serves to supply holding fluid under pressure to thecylinder 250 as previously described to maintain jaw pressure on the faces of the brick which is disposed within the aforementionedparticular cradle 20. This position of thevalve element 316 is maintained throughout the remainder of the travel of the brick through the apparatus and until such time as theactuating finger 318 engages the cradle-openingcontrol cam 354 when the cradle is at the discharge station D.

During the first pass of each brick B through the grinding station G, the opposite side faces c and d of the brick will encounter the opposed inside faces of the two spaced apart grindingwheels 25 as schematically portrayed in FIG. 14 and be rendered smooth, planar and precisely parallel irrespective of any irregularities or lack of parallelism existing in or between the four faces a, b, e and which are engaged by the pivoted spider-like jaw elements 235 and 225. During the actual grinding operation, the resilient clamping strips 226 allow the brick to assume a floating condition between the two grinding surfaces, each surface serving as a reaction surface for the other. Each brick, with its two faces c and d thus conditioned, is conducted bycradle 20 from the grinding station G to the discharge station D where theactuating finger 318 of the associateddirectional valve 212 encounters the fixedcontrol cam 354, thus causing the movable valve element 316 (see FIG. 8) of said associateddirectional valve 212 to move to its #3 position and effect retraction of the plunger, 248 so as to open the cradle :and release the brick so that it drops onto the upper reach of theendless discharge conveyor 16.

The bricks which comprise the first run of bricks and have their side faces 0 and d conditioned in the manner indicated above, may now be returned to the receiving station R where they are again individually and successively loaded upon thetrays 18 of thefeed conveyor 10 for a second run through the apparatus. During this second run, the grinding wheels operate upon the faces a and b as schematically shown in FIG. 16. To accommodate placement of the bricks in thetrays 18 of thefeed conveyor 10 so that proper brick orientation in thetrays 18 with the faces 0 of the bricks now constituting the leading faces, trays having dimensions or shapes which are commensurate with the interchanged dimensions of the bricks will be substituted for theoriginal trays 18..

This substitution of trays may readily be accomplished by removing thespindles 102 and their associated original trays from the lower ends of the downwardly extendingswinging supporting arms 56 of thefeed conveyor 10 and re-applying the spindles of the substitute trays. It may also be necessary to effect substitution of thevarious cradle 20 on thedrum 14 in order to accommodate the differently oriented bricks B. This may readily be accomplished by proper manipulation of thefastening bolts 222. Additionally, the spacing between the twogrinding wheels 25 may be altered in the manner previously described to accommodate the different transverse dimension of the bricks during the second run or pass.

It is to be noted that when the bricks are loaded .for

the second time on thetrays 18 of thefeed conveyor 10 1 with their faces 0 constituting the leading faces and the faces d constituting the trailing faces, these two faces will likewise constitute the leading and trailing faces of the bricks after the transfer has been made at the transfer station and the bricks are carried in thecradles 20 of the 'drum 14. Since these faces a and d are ones which were rendered planar and parallel during the first run, they will now constitute accurate reference faces for clamping engagement by thejaws 230 and 227 of the various cradles 20. V

The substitute cradles employed during the second run of bricks through the apparatus are, in essence and other than shape and dimensions, substantially the same as the original cradles 20 employed during the first run of bricks with the single exception that the pivoted spider-like jaw elements 235 and 225 may be omitted and the leading and trailing faces 0 and d of the bricks clamped directly in the cradles between thejaws 230 and 227, the endfaces of the bricks bearing directly against'the inside edge of theupstanding jaw fingers 224 of the fixedjaws 227,and thejaw side arms 232 of theremovable jaws 230.

After the bricks have been subjected to their second 1 run and deposited on thedischarge conveyor 16 with their faces a and b accurately ground so that they are precisely parallel and normal to the. previously ground faces o and d, they are returned to the receiving station R for a third run or pass through the apparatus. During this third run of bricks, the bricks will be fed to thetrays 18 of thefeed conveyor 10 withrthe faces 0 constituting the d and the grindingwheels 25 will operate upon the end faces e and f of the bricks as schematically shown "in FIG. 17. The bricks which are discharged upon theconveyor 16 during the third run of bricks will have all of their six faces not only planar within a high degree of flatness, but these faces will all be truly rectangular with opposite faces beingparallel to each other and with the bricks being devoid of burrs and other irregularities.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings 1 or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without'de parting from the spirit or scope of the invention.

run of bricks through the apparatus, it is contemplated that three of the apparatuses may be arranged in sideby-side or series relation with the receiving station of the second apparatus being positioned adjacent to the discharge station of the first apparatus, and with the re ceiving station of the third apparatus being positioned adjacent to the discharge station of the second apparatus.

For example, whereas the treatment of bricks for the con- 5 ditioning of all six faces thereof has been described as being predicated upon effecting three passes of a given Thevarious trays 18 and thecradles 20 of the three apparatuses will be constructed to accommodate the dimensional characteristics and orientation of the bricks of the three runs of bricks, while the spacings between the grindingwheels 25 of the three grinding stands 26 will also be commensurate with the spacing between the adjacent opposite faces of the bricks being operated upon by each pair of grinding wheels.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the particular details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a brick grinding apparatus for conditioning pairs of opposite faces of bricks, in combination, means establishing a receiving station, a transfer station, a grinding station and a discharge station, a feed conveyor having a fixed framework and including a series of brick-supporting trays movable in feed and return relation between the receiving and transfer stations and adapted to receive a succession of bricks at the former station and transfer them to the latter station, a brick-clamping conveyor having a fixed framework and including a series of brickclamping cradles movable in advance and return relation between the transfer and grinding stations and adapted to receive the bricks from the feed coveyor at the transfer station and conduct them to the grinding station, a pair of grinding wheels at the grinding station and having opposed grinding surfaces between which the clamped bricks in the cradles are adapted to pass, each tray including a pair of tray sections movable between closed brick-supporting and open brick-releasing positions, spring means yieldingly urging said tray sections toward their open positions, latch means automatically operable to maintain the tray sections in their closed position against the action of said spring means, cam means operable during the return movements of the trays for moving said tray sections to their closed position, each cradle including a pair of brickclamping jaws movable between closed brick-clamping and open brick-releasing positions, means for moving said conveyors in timed relation so that'the trays and cradles arrive in matched pairs at the transfer station, means operable upon arrival of each tray at the transfer station to trip the latch means thereof to open the tray sections and release the brick supported thereby, means operable upon arrival of each cradle at the transfer station to close the jaws thereof in order to clamp therebetween a brick released from the feed conveyor, and means operable upon arrival of each cradle at the discharge station for opening the jaws thereof to release the ground bricks.

2. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 1 and wherein said means for tripping the latch means of the trays at the transfer station comprises interengaging latch-tripping fingers on the cradles and trays and movable into engagement with each other as the matched pairs of cradles and trays arrive at the transfer station.

3. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set forth inclaim 2 and wherein the lower end of each jaw is provided with a shelf-like supporting tray adapted to underlie one edge region of a brick which is positioned in the associated cradle.

4. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set 6. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set 1'8 forth in claim 1 and wherein said cam means for moving said tray sections to their closed position includes a cam rail on the framework of the feed conveyor and successively engageable with the tray sections during return movement of the trays.

7. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 1, wherein said means for tripping the latch means on the trays at the transfer station comprises interengaging latch-tripping fingers on the cradles and trays and movable into engagement with each other as the matched pairs of cradles and trays arrive at the transfer station, wherein the means for closing the jaws of the brick-clamping cradles comprise a jaw-actuating linkage connected to each pair of brick-clamping jaws and including an actuating finger, and a jaw-closing trip'cam fixedly mounted on the framework of the brick-clamping conveyor and positioned in the path of movement of the successive actuating fingers, and wherein the means for opening the jaws of the brick-clamping cradles comprises a jaw-opening trip cam fixedly mounted on the framework of the brick-clamping conveyor and likewise positioned in the path of movement of the successive actuating fingers.

8. In a brick grinding apparatus for conditioning pairs of opposite faces of bricks, in combination, means establishing a transfer station, a grinding station and a discharge station, rotatable grinding wheels at said grinding station and having opposed operative surfaces, a rotatable drum having peripherally spaced cradles movable successively through the transfer station to receive bricks therein, the grinding station to carry the bricks between said opposed operative surfaces of the grinding wheels, and the discharge station to discharge the conditioned bricks thereat, each cradle including a fixed reaction jaw and a movable clamping jaw movable between an open brick-releasing position and a closed brick-clamping position wherein it engages one end face of a brick and forces the opposed end face against the fixed reaction jaw, each fixed and movable jaw including a pivoted jaw element directly engageable with the brick and embodying a pair of diverging yoke arms adapted to straddle an adjacent transverse ege of the brick with one arm bearing against an adjacent face of the brick and the other arm bearing against an adjoining face of the brick, a fluid pressure device mounted on the drum and connected to each movable clamping jaw, a control valve for each fluid pressure device, mounted on the drum and having a control finger effective in one position thereof to actuate the fluid pressure device so as to effect closing of the associated movable clamping jaw and effective in another position to actuate the fluid pressure device so as to effect opening of the clamping jaw, a fixed jaw-closing cam positioned in the path of movement of said control fingers and effective when engaged by the latter to move the same to said one position, a fixed jaw-opening cam positioned in the path of movement of said control fingers and elfective when engaged by the latter to move the same to said other position, said jaw-closing cam being engageable by said control fingers when the associated cradles are disposed at the transfer station, said jaw-opening cam being engageable by said control fingers when the associated cradles are disposed at the discharge station, a source of fluid under pressure for said fluid pressure devices, and means including a slip connection for conducting fluid under pressure to said control valves from said source.

9. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 8 and wherein each yoke arm includes a resilient friction strip engageable with an adjacent face of the brick.

10. In a brick grinding apparatus for conditioning pairs of opposite faces of bricks, in combination, a rotatable drum having peripherally spaced cradles mounted thereon, means establishing a transfer station, a centering station, a grinding station and a discharge station in circumfer entially spaced relation about the drum in the order named,

rotatable grinding wheels at the grinding station and having opposed operative surfaces for engaging adjacent opposite faces of bricks passing therebetween, a centering device. including a pair of centering jaws at the centering station and movable between an'open position and a closed position wherein the jaws engage the adjacent opposite faces of the bricks to align the bricks with the grinding wheels, a fluid pressure cylinder for actuating said centering jaws, a plurality of cradles on the periphery of said drum and movable in succession repeatedly past said station, each cradle including a fixed reaction jaw and a movable clamping jaw movable between an open brick-releasing position and a closed position wherein it engages a brick and forces the same against the fixed reaction jaw, fluid pressure, means including a first source of fluid under pressure for actuating each movable clarnping jaw to effect closing movement thereof during passage of the associated cradle through the transfer station, to maintain the same closed during passage of the associated cradle through the centering and grinding stations, and to open the same during passage of the associated cradle through the centering and grinding stations, and to open the same during passage of the associated-cradle through the discharge station, and separate and second fluid pressure means including a second source of fluid under pressure for effecting momentary closing movement of the centering jaws during passage of each cradle through the centering station and immediate opening thereof after such cradle has left the centering station.

11. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set forth inclaim 10 and wherein said fluid pressure means for actuating'each movable clamping jaw comprises a pressure cylinder operatively connected to the movable jaw, a pressure accumulator, and a control valve having a control finger movable between first, second and third positions, said control finger when in its first position being effective to connect the fluid pressure device to the first source of'fluid under pressure so as to effect closing of the movable clamping jaw, said pressure accumulator being connected to the pressure cylinder and biasing the latter to effect closing of the movable clamping jaw, said control finger when in its second position being effective to seal off the pressure cylinder from said first source of fluid under pressure and permit the pressure accumulator to become effective, said control finger when in its third position being effective to connect the fluid pressure device to said first source of fluid under pressure so as to effect opening of the movable clamping jaw, and a series of fixed cams positioned in the path of movement of said control finger for moving the latter between the three positions thereof.

12. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set forth inclaim 10 and wherein said second fluid pressure means for effecting momentary closing movement of the centering jaws comprises a pressure cylinder operatively connected to said centering jaws, a fixed reversing valve for the pressure cylinder and having a movable actuating finger movable between a first position wherein the valve is effective to open said centering jaws, and a second position wherein the valve is effective to close said centering jaws, and a pair of finger-engaging cams on said drum successively engageable with said actuating finger for moving the same between said first and second positions.

13. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set forth inclaim 10 and including, additionally, equalizing means for effecting equal displacement of said centering aws.

J 14. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set forth inclaim 10 and wherein said centering jaws are mounted for swinging movements toward and away from each other, said centering jaws being provided with lateral extensions, and a pin and slot connection between said lateral extensions for equalizing the swinging movements of the jaws.

15. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination with a grinding machine adapted to receive a succession of similarly oriented bricks at a transfer station for conduction to a grinding station in oriented positions which are dependent upon the orientation of the bricks when received at the transfer station, of a feed conveyor for transporting the bricks from a receiving station to the transfer station and for releasing the bricks at the transfer station in such similarly oriented positions, said feed con v veyor comprising an endless conveyor carrier having feed and return reach sections extending between the receiving station and the transfer station, a series of articulated brick-supporting and transporting trays mounted on said carrier, each tray including a crosshead, a pair of brickengaging jaws pivoted to the crosshead and movable relatively toward and away from each other between closed brick-engaging and open brick-releasing positions, spring means yieldingly urging said jaws toward their open posi-. tion, means operatively connecting said jaws for equalize ing the movements thereof, a fixed latch arm on one of said jaws, and a pivoted latch arm on the other jaw and designed for latching engagement with the fixed latch arm when saidjaws are moved to their closed position for maintaining the jaws in such closed position against the action of said spring means, cam means operable during movement of the trays along said return reach section for effecting sequential closing of the jaws of said trays and consequent latching engagement of the associated latch arms, and means operable upon arrival of each tray at, the transfer station and engageable with the associated 1 pivoted latch arm for moving the latter out of latching engagement with its respective fixed latch arm to effect opening of the associated jaws and consequent release of the brick supported thereby.

16. In a brick grinding apparatus for conditioning pairs of end faces of bricks, in combination, means establishing a receiving station, a transfer station, a grinding station and a discharge station, a feed conveyor adapted to receive bricks successively deposited thereon at the receiving station, transport them in similarly oriented positions,

to the transfer station, and release them at said latter station, a clamping conveyor adapted to receive the released bricks at the transfer station, transport the same through the grinding station to the discharge station and release them at said latter station, said feed conveyor comprising an endless carrier having feed and return reach sections extending between the feed and transfer stations and horizontal reversing sections at said feed and transfer stations, said clamping conveyor comprising a drum mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis below the reversing section of the feed conveyor at the transfer station whereby the region of closest approach between,

the two conveyors lies above the drum and constitutes the transfer station, a series of suspension arms pivotally mounted on the carrier at spaced points therealong and depending therefrom, an articulated brick-supporting tray carried at the lower end of each suspension arm and movable between closed brick-supporting and open brickreleasing positions, said suspension arms normally depending below the level of the transfer, station so that the cradles supported thereby are normally disposed below such level, a fixed cam rail positioned in the path of movement of said suspension arms and engageable therewith for deflecting said arms as they approach the transfer station to raise the level of the trays to that of the transfer station and guide the trays through the transfer station, a

series of articulated brick-clamping cradles mounted on the periphery of said drum for movement through said transfer, grinding and discharge stations, said cradles being movable between closed brick-clamping and open brickdischarging positions, a pair of grinding wheels at said,

grinding station and having opposed operative surfaces, means for driving said conveyors in timed relation so that the cradles and trays arrive at the transfer station in matched pairs, means effective to close the trays during movement thereof from the-transfer station to the receiving station, means effective to maintain said tiay's closed during their movement from the receiving station to the transfer station, means effective to open the trays upon arrival thereof at the transfer station, means effective to open the cradles upon arrival thereof at the discharge station and to maintain them open during their movement from the discharge station to the transfer station, and means effective to close the cradles at the transfer station and maintain them closed during passage thereof through the grinding station and to the discharge station.

17. In a brick grinding machine, the combination set forth inclaim 16, wherein said trays are yieldingly biased toward their open position, wherein the means for maintaining the trays closed comprises releasable latch means, and wherein said means for opening said trays comprises a series of trip fingers on the cradles engageable with the latch means on the trays upon arrival of the cradles and trays at the transfer station.

18. In a brick grinding apparatus of the character described, a fixed grinding stand including a pair of spaced apart grinding wheels presenting opposed parallel grinding surfaces for simultaneously grinding the adjacent opposite faces of successive bricks moving between said surfaces, a rotatable brick-supporting drum for conducting the bricks endwise and successively between said grinding surfaces, and a plurality of brick-supporting and clamping cradles carried on the periphery of said drum and movable past a loading station where the bricks may be applied to the cradles and past a discharge station where the bricks are discharged from the cradles, each cradle comprising a pair of side plates secured to opposite sides of the drum and presenting straight outer edges which extend generally tangentially of the drum and across which edges a brick received Within the cradle is adapted to extend with the end regions of the brick overhanging the same on opposite sides of the drum, the leading ends of said plates being provided with generally radially outwardly projecting extensions constituting a fixed clamping jaw, a yoke pivoted to the outer end of each clamping jaw, a pair of resilient clamping members mounted on each yoke and designed for clamping engagement with adjacent brick faces, said clamping elements, when in contact with said adjacent brick faces, allowing for lateral shifting for the bricks in the cradles under the influence of grinding pressure on the brick faces being ground, a pair of levers pivoted medially of their ends to said side plates adjacent to their trailing ends and presenting jaw arms outside the cylindrical confines of the drum and jaw-actuating extensions within the cylindrical drum confines, said jaw arms constituting a movable jaw capable of swinging movement toward and away from said fixed jaw between retracted open and advanced closed positions, the inner ends of said extensions being slotted, a pair of crank arms, one pair for each cradle, mounted on the drum and having pins operating in the slots of said extensions, actuating cylinders mounted on the drum and operatively connected to the pairs of crank arms, control valves mounted on the drum for actuating the cylinders, means for supplying fluid under pressure to said control valves, an actuating finger on each control valve, and fixed cams positioned in the path of movement of said actuating fingers and engageable therewith in passing for sequentially actuating the control valves to effect closing movements of said movable jaws at the loading station and opening thereof at the discharge station.

19. In a brick grinding apparatus of the character described, the combination set forth inclaim 18 and including, additionally, a yoke pivoted to the outer end of each clamping jaw, and a pair of anti-friction members mounted on each yoke and designed for clamping engagement with adjacent brick faces, said anti-friction members, when in contact with said brick faces, allowing for lateral shifting of the bricks in the cradles under the influence of grinding pressure on the brick faces being ground.

20. In a brick grinding apparatus, a support, a bricksupporting and clamping drum mounted on said support for' rotation about an axis, a motor drivingly connected t6 the drum for rotating the latter, a plurality of brickclamping cradles mounted on the periphery of said drum and movable through a loading station, a centering station, a grinding station and a discharge station successively and in the order named, a pair of brick-clamping jaw-s associated with each cradle and movable between closed brick-clamping and open brick-releasing position, a pressure cylinder operatively connected to each pair of jaws for actuating the same, a control valve for each cylinder, a pressure accumulator for each cylinder, said pressure accumulator being effective to actuate the cylinder so as to maintain said clamping jaws closed, said control valve being effective in a first position to actuate the cylinder so as to effect jaw-closing movements, in a second position to close off said cylinder and allow said pressure accumulator to become effective, and in a third position to actuate the cylinder to effect jaw-opening movements, all of said cylinders, pressure accumulators and control valves being operatively mounted on the drum for rotation bodily therewith, each control valve having a movable control lever associated therewith for selectively effecting the position of the valve, first, second and third fixed cams positioned on said support in the path of movement of said control levers and designed for successive engagement therewith upon rotation of the drum, said first cam being effective to move the valves to their first position when the corresponding cradles move through the loading station, said second cam being effective to move the valves to their second position when the corresponding cradles move through the centering station, and the third cam being effective to move the valves to their third position when the corresponding cradles move through the discharge station.

21. In a brick grinding apparatus, a support, a bricksupporting and clamping drum mounted on said support for rotation about a horizontal axis, a motor drivingly connected to the drum for rotating the latter, a plurality of brick-clamping cradles mounted on the periphery of the drum and movable through a loading station, a centering station, a grinding station and a discharge station in the order named, a pair of brick-clamping jaws associated with each cradle and movable between closed brick-clamping and open brick-releasing positions, fluid pressure means effective to cause closing movements of the jaws as the associated cradles move through the loading station and to cause opening movements of the jaws as the associated cradles move through the discharge station, a pair of centering shoes on opposite sides of the drum at the centering station and movable toward and away from each other in unison between retracted inoperative and advanced operative positions and effective, when in their operative position to engage the side faces of a brick passing through the centering station to align the same with the grinding station, a fluid pressure cylinder for actuating said centering shoes, a source of fluid pressure, a control valve operatively connected to the source of fluid pressure and the pressure cylinder for actuating the latter, said control valve being effective in a first position to retract said centering shoes and in a second position to advance said centering shoes, a valve actuator for controlling the positions of said valve, and a series of control cams mounted on the drum, movable bodily therewith and engageable with said valve actuator in succession and effective to cause advance movement of the centering shoes during movement of each cradle through the centering station.

22. In a brick grinding apparatus, the combination set forth in claim 21, wherein said valve actuator is yieldingly biased to a position wherein said centering shoes are in their inoperative retracted position, and wherein said control cams on the drum are in the form of trip fingers for momentarily engaging the actuator in passing.

23. In a brick grinding apparatus, a support, a bricksupporting and clamping drum mounted on said support for rotation about a horizontal axis, a motor drivingly connected to the drum for rotating the latter, a plurality of brick-clamping cradles mounted on the periphery of the drum and movable through a loading station, a centering station, a grinding station and a discharge station in the order named, a pair of brick-clamping jaws associated with each cradle and movable between closed brickclamping and open brick-releasing positions, fluid pressure means effective to cause closing movements of the jaws as the associated cradles move through the loading station and to cause opening movements of the jaws as the associated cradles move through the discharge station, a centering device at said centering stationand comprising a support, a pair of rocker arms pivoted to said support at spaced points thereon, adjacent ends of said rocker arms carrying opposed centering shoes on opposite sides of the drum, said shoes being movable with the arms toward and away from each other between advanced operative positions wherein the shoes engage the side faces of abrick 20 passing through the centering station to align the same with the grinding station, and retracted inoperative positions, a pressure cylinder interposed between said rocker arms for actuating the same, a source of fluid pressure, a

control valve operatively connected to the source of, fluid tering shoes are retracted and in a second position to move the rocker arms to positions wherein said centering shoes are advanced, a valve actuator for controlling the positions of said valve, and a series of control cams mounted on the drum, movable bodily with the drum, and engageable with said valve actuator in succession to cause advance movement of the centering shoes during movement of the cradles through the centering station.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 406,450 7/1889 Casse 51-2152 766,403 8/1904 Vincke 51l18 1 1,166,647 1/1916 Wolfe 198-210 1,646,359 10/1927 Raiche 198103 2,000,458 5/1935 Shipley 51--134 2,352,551 6/1944 Kende 51-118 2,799,124 7/1957 Polzin 51215.1

HAROLD D. WHITEHEAD, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN A BRICK GRINDING APPARATUS FOR CONDITIONING PAIRS OF OPPOSITE FACES OF BRICKS, IN COMBINATION, MEANS ESTABLISHING A RECEIVING STATION, A TRANSFER STATION, A GRINDING STATION AND A DISCHARGE STATION, A FEED CONVEYOR HAVING A FIXED FRAMEWORK AND INCLUDING A SERIES OF BRICK-SUPPORTING TRAYS MOVABLE IN FEED AND RETURN RELATION BETWEEN THE RECEIVING AND TRANSFER STATIONS AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A SUCCESSION OF BRICKS AT THE FORMER STATION AND TRANSFER THEM TO THE LATTER STATION, A BRICK-CLAMPING CONVEYOR HAVING A FIXED FRAMEWORK AND INCLUDING A SERIES OF BRICKCLAMPING CRADLES MOVABLE IN ADVANCE AND RETURN RELATION BETWEEN THE TRANSFER AND GRINDING STATIONS AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE THE BRICKS FROM THE FEED CONVEYOR AT THE TRANSFER STATION AND CONDUCT THEM TO THE GRINDING STATION, A PAIR OF GRINDING WHEELS AT THE GRINDING STATION AND HAVING OPPOSED GRINDING SURFACES BETWEEN WHICH THE CLAMPED BRICKS IN THE CRADLES ARE ADAPTED TO PASS, EACH TRAY INCLUDING A PAIR OF TRAY SECTIONS MOVABLE BETWEEN CLOSED BRICK-SUPPORTING AND OPEN BRICK-RELEASING POSITION, SPRING MEANS YIELDINGLY URGING SAID TRAY SECTIONS TOWARD THEIR OPEN POSITION, LATCH MEANS AUTOMATICALLY OPERABLE TO MAINTAIN THE TRAY SECTIONS IN THEIR CLOSED POSITION AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID SPRING MEANS, CAM MEANS OPERABLE DURING THE RETURN MOVEMENTS OF THE TRAYS FOR MOVING SAID TRAY SECTIONS TO THEIR CLOSED POSITION, EACH CRADLE INCLUDING A PAIR OF BRICKCLAMPING JAWS MOVABLE BETWEEN CLOSED BRICK-CLAMPING AND OPEN BRICK-RELEASING POSITIONS, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID CONVEYORS IN TIMED RELATION SO THAT THE TRAYS AND CRADLES ARRIVE IN MATCHED PAIRS AT THE TRANSFER STATION, MEANS OPERABLE UPON ARRIVAL OF EACH TRAY AT THE TRANSFER STATION TO TRIP THE LATCH MEANS THEREOF TO OPEN THE TRAY SECTIONS AND RELEASE THE BRICK SUPPORTED THEREBY, MEANS OPERABLE UPON ARRIVAL OF EACH CRADLE AT THE TRANSFER STATION TO CLOSE THE JAWS THEREOF IN ORDER TO CLAMP THEREBETWEEN A BRICK RELEASED FROM THE FEED CONVEYOR, AND MEANS OPERABLE UPON ARRIVAL OF EACH CRADLE AT THE DISCHARGE STATION FOR OPENING THE JAWS THEREOF TO RELEASE THE GROUND BRICKS.

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