Method and apparatus for hacking bricks

US4119217A · kind A · utility

Inventor

• Robert E. Jones · Madison, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 15, 1977
• Grant date: Oct 10, 1978
• Expiry date: Feb 15, 1997

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10S414/11
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

Method and apparatus for hacking green bricks for eventual introduction into a kiln; wherein bricks are placed on a spread table in parallel rows, and the spread table is actuated to space each of the rows of bricks from each other at distances greater than spacings that will be required when the bricks are being fired in a kiln. A brick gripping head having a plurality of elongated brick gripping members is positioned over the spread bricks on the spread table with the brick gripping members extending vertically in the spaces between the rows of bricks and horizontally along the opposite sides of the bricks. The spread table is then actuated to reduce the spacings between the bricks to predetermined final spacings required during firing of the bricks in the kiln. Simultaneously with such retraction of the spread table, the brick gripping members are also moved laterally towards each other to accommodate the decreased spacings between the bricks. In the preferred embodiment, the brick gripping members include air bags which are inflatable for gripping the sides of the brick and deflatable for releasing the brick. When the desired final spacing is achieved by retraction of the sprea…