Apparatus to manufacture green bricks

Details Apparatus to manufacture green bricks Apparatus to manufacture green bricks

2000-07-13

2001-12-18

Davis, Robert (Department: 1722)

Plastic article or earthenware shaping or treating: apparatus

Diverse distinct type shaping means

C425S36400B, C425S366000, C425S373000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06331105

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of brick making, there are generally two types of bricks; “Green” bricks and “Fired” bricks. To manufacture a common brick a soft mixture of clay is extruded through an extrusion device to form a flat horizontally extending column of clay from which clay slugs are produced. These slugs are later cut into a common “brick” shape by passing them through a cutting assembly unit such as a “push through” cutter. Various other assembly units can be included into the brick making production line before or after the cutting unit.
Generally, a “green” brick is defined as a brick which is an amorphous or soft state produced from the clay column coming from the extruder. A “fired” brick on the other hand, is a brick, which once leaving the extrusion device (as a “green” brick), proceeds to a drier and into a kiln wherein the brick is “fired”.
It is well known to manufacture bricks having an irregular appearance. This irregular appearance is generally produced by taking either “green” or “fired” bricks and tumbling them. This tumbling action deforms the edges of “green” and chips the edges of “fired” bricks, giving each respective brick a unique appearance.
When green bricks are tumbled, they are placed into a tumbling machine which knocks, folds and generally distorts the shape of the brick. When fired bricks are tumbled, they are placed in a similar tumbling machine and “rumbled”. These tumbling machines include a drum mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis. The internal surface of the drum is provided with a plurality of spaced bars which engage and lift the bricks. The drum is driven by an electric motor.
Unfortunately, this method for producing tumbled fired bricks is extremely noisy and produces significant quantities of dust. Both prior all processes are also very labor intensive.
Bricks produced in this traditional way invariably have to be handled manually because the distortions prevent automatic marshaling and setting equipment being used. Accordingly, tumbled bricks are more costly to manufacture.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate some of the disadvantages of the prior art, or at least to provide a useful alternative.
It is another object of this invention to mass produce bricks having the appearance of being tumbled without actually tumbling the bricks and incurring losses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus is disclosed herein adapted to receive a slug from which “green” bricks are formed, the slug being elongated and having a rectangular transverse cross section, said apparatus being adapted to deform the slug and comprising:
an elongated base to receive the slug so that the slug extends longitudinally thereof; and
at least two deformation members mounted adjacent the base and movable transversely of the base between a retracted position in which the members would be spaced from the slug, and a deformation position in which at least portions of the deformation members are engaged with the slug to cause plastic deformation thereof.
In the above mentioned apparatus, preferably the deformation members include a plurality of deformation members which are moved in a direction generally transverse of the base between retracted and deformation positions.
Preferably, the deformation members are adapted to deform all four longitudinally extending edges of a slug.
It is further preferred that the deformation members be secured to a bar which is pivotally mounted for angular movement about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the base.


REFERENCES:
patent: 1202581 (1916-10-01), Plumb
patent: 1246411 (1917-11-01), Fontaine
patent: 3213510 (1965-10-01), Mizer et al.
patent: 3350757 (1967-11-01), Bowles
patent: 4419065 (1983-12-01), Cox
patent: 4495132 (1985-01-01), Johnson

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