Brick placing machine

Abstract

A brick placing machine consisting of a horizontally disposed substantially rectangular rectangle the length of which corresponds approximately to the maximum width or height of any brick panel to be formed, a substantially horizontal mould on which a brick panel can be formed arranged adjacent to the receptacle the receptacle being constructed to receive bricks constituting part of a panel, the bricks being arranged in the receptacle in a configuration in which they are to be placed on the mould, the receptacle having in it clamps for clamping the bricks in their correct relative positions with appropriate spaces between bricks and between courses of bricks for the reception of mortar, the receptacle being movable to a position over the mould in which position the clamps are released to leave the bricks on the mould in the desired position, the receptacle then being moved clear of the bricks placed on the mould and moved relative to the mould so that the receptacle can be suitable refilled with bricks and the cycle repeated until a brick panel of the desired configuration is assembled on the mould. It is preferred that the receptacle is mounted pivotably about one end and is moved over the mould be pivoting about its pivotal axis to bring the faces of the bricks held in the receptacle face downwardly onto the mould.

We claim: 
     
       1. A brick placing machine, comprising: a receptacle having a length substantially corresponding to a maximum width or height of a brick panel to be formed;   a mold adjacent said receptacle on which said brick panel can be formed, wherein said mold receives a plurality of bricks which make up said brick panel, and wherein said plurality of bricks are arranged on said receptacle in a configuration in which said bricks are to be placed on said mold;   brick locating means for positioning each brick in a predetermined position on said receptacle so as to provide spaces between said bricks, wherein said spaces between said bricks receive mortar;   brick clamping means for holding said bricks on said receptacle in said predetermined positions;   a first receptacle moving means for moving said receptacle along a side of said mold;   a second receptacle moving means for moving said receptacle from a first position to a second position over said mold; and   brick releasing means for releasing said bricks from said receptacle to said mold in said predetermined positions, wherein said second receptacle moving means moves said receptacle from said second position over said mold to said first position after said bricks are released onto said mold, and wherein said receptacle can be refilled with additional bricks when said receptacle is on said first position.   
     
     
       2. The brick placing machine as in claim 1, wherein said receptacle receives said bricks with a finished face for each of said bricks facing upwards, and wherein said receptacle moving means inverts said bricks when moving from said first position to said second position over said mold so as to have said finished face for each of said bricks rests on said mold when said bricks are released by said brick releasing means from said receptacle. 
     
     
       3. The brick placing machine as in claim 2, wherein said brick clamping means equally clamps each brick or a portion thereof regardless of dimensional differences between said bricks. 
     
     
       4. The brick placing machine as in claim 3, further comprising retractable end stops on said receptacle so as to ensure proper positioning of half bricks on said receptacle. 
     
     
       5. The brick placing machine as in claim 1, wherein one end of said receptacle is pivotally mounted about a pivotal axis on a carriage, wherein said receptacle receives said bricks with a finished face for each of said bricks facing upwards, and wherein said receptacle moving means pivots said receptacle about said pivotal axis and inverts said bricks when moving from said first position to said second position over said mold so as to have said finished face for each of said bricks rests on said mold when said bricks are released by said brick releasing means from said receptacle. 
     
     
       6. The brick placing machine as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said receptacle is one of a first receptacle and a second receptacle, wherein said first and second receptacles are interchangeable, wherein said first receptacle receives said bricks in such a manner that said bricks are parallel to a principal axis of said receptacle, and wherein said second receptacle receives said bricks in such a manner that said bricks are perpendicular to said principal axis of said receptacle. 
     
     
       7. The brick placing machine as in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said first receptacle moving means comprises a track coupled to a carriage which supports said receptacle, a longitudinal member which slides along said track, a hydraulic jack operably coupled to said longitudinal member, actuating means for clamping said longitudinal member onto said track, wherein an extension of said jack moves said receptacle relative to said mold to a position, and wherein a contraction of said jack, upon release of the clamping of said longitudinal member from said track, moves said receptacle relative to said mold to another position.