US3716264A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Inflatable grippers for brick making machines or the like
Assignee: PEARNE & LACY MACHINE COMPANY INC A CORPOF NC
•
Filing: 1971-03-08
•
Granted: 1973-02-13
•
Expires: 1991-03-08
Abstract
Abstract An automated brick hacker is disclosed which includes an inverter stacker operable to position one elongated cut or uncut slug of unfired brick material on a subsequent cut or uncut slug. In one embodiment, an inverter is pivoted for movement between a position aligned with an off-bearing belt and an inverted position over the belt. A pusher operates to slide alternate slugs from the off-bearing belt onto the inverter. Vacuum means grip the slug while it is inverted and positioned over the subsequent slug on the off-bearing belt. In another embodiment, an inverter stacker is provided which is operable to grip lateral sides of a slug along its length and raise the slug for positioning on a subsequent slug with or without inversion. A pusher drivingly engages the rearward end of a cut slug for movement into the inverter and spaces adjacent slugs without creating spaces between bricks in the slug. A pneumatic gripper is provided to gently, but securely, grip a plurality of bricks for transfer from one location to another.
Inventors
- 👤 F Robson
- 👤 Florentin Pearne
- 👤 Frank Pearne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 09:30
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/74; B65G47/90; B65G47/908; B65G57/00; B65G57/02; B65G57/16; B65G57/20; B65G57/22; B65G57/26; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S414/00; Y10S414/10; Y10S414/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A gripper frame comprising a plurality of spaced and parallel gripper assemblies, each assembly including a horizontally extending elongated frame member, a sheet of flexible material folded around the bottom edge of said frame member and supported along its entire length at the top edge of said frame member, said frame member cooperating with said sheet to form at least part of a pressure chamber where the sheet forms opposite sidewalls, pressure control means to pressurize and exhaust said chambers whereby both sidewalls of at least some of said assemblies move laterally apart when the chambers are pressurized toward and adjacent assembly to engage and grip an article on each side of such assemblies, said sidewalls returning to their initial position releasing such article when the pressure chambers are exhausted.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A gripper frame comprising a plurality of spaced and parallel gripper assemblies, each assembly including a horizontally extending elongated frame member, a sheet of flexible material folded around the bottom edge of said frame member and supported along its entire length at the top edge of said frame member, said frame member cooperating with said sheet to form at least part of a pressure chamber where the sheet forms opposite sidewalls, pressure control means to pressurize and exhaust said chambers whereby both sidewalls of at least some of said assemblies move laterally apart when the chambers are pressurized toward and adjacent assembly to engage and grip an article on each side of such assemblies, said sidewalls returning to their initial position releasing such article when the pressure chambers are exhausted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
130 words
A gripper frame comprising a plurality of spaced and parallel gripper assemblies, each assembly including a horizontally extending elongated frame member, a sheet of flexible material folded around the bottom edge of said frame member and supported along its entire length at the top edge of said frame member, said frame member cooperating with said sheet to form at least part of a pressure chamber where the sheet forms opposite sidewalls, pressure control means to pressurize and exhaust said chambers whereby both sidewalls of at least some of said assemblies move laterally apart when the chambers are pressurized toward and adjacent assembly to engage and grip an article on each side of such assemblies, said sidewalls returning to their initial position releasing such article when the pressure chambers are exhausted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
130 words
A gripper frame comprising a plurality of spaced and parallel gripper assemblies, each assembly including a horizontally extending elongated frame member, a sheet of flexible material folded around the bottom edge of said frame member and supported along its entire length at the top edge of said frame member, said frame member cooperating with said sheet to form at least part of a pressure chamber where the sheet forms opposite sidewalls, pressure control means to pressurize and exhaust said chambers whereby both sidewalls of at least some of said assemblies move laterally apart when the chambers are pressurized toward and adjacent assembly to engage and grip an article on each side of such assemblies, said sidewalls returning to their initial position releasing such article when the pressure chambers are exhausted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A gripper frame as set forth in claim 1 wherein substantially the entire support of said sheet is provided at said top edge of said frame member and the lower part of said sheet adjacent said fold is unsupported.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
A gripper frame as set forth in claim 2 wherein said flexible sheet is fluid impervious and wherein sealing means are provided to seal at least portions of said sheet and the associated frame member so that they cooperate to form said pressure chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The gripper frame as set forth in claim 3 wherein said impervious flexible sheet has its sides joined forming a tube having entry means communicating the fluid pressure from the pressure control means to the pressure chambers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A gripper assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of said frame members is positioned between and substantially parallel to two other frame members, the sheet supported by said one frame member providing two opposed wall portions with one on each side of said frame member, each of said two wall portions cooperating with the wall portion of an adjacent sheet member to provide a pair of said opposed wall portions, each pair of opposed wall portions being operable to grip one of a pair of parallel rows of brick or the like therebetween, said one frame member being substantially free of lateral forces when a row of brick or the like is gripped on each side thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A gripper assembly as set forth in claim 5 wherein said one frame member provides a lower edge and opposed lateral sides, and the sheet member supported thereby extends down along one lateral side, around said lower edge and up along the other lateral side.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A gripper assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein means are provided to interconnect said chambers for simultaneously pressurizing and exhausting said chambers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-02-13 | 1976-08-14 | 1977-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-02-13 | 1980-08-14 | 1981-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-02-13 | 1984-08-14 | 1985-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |