WO2003104566A1

WO2003104566A1 - Apparatus for assembling blocks

Info

Publication number: WO2003104566A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/002316
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Christopher Hall
Original assignee: Marshalls Mono Ltd
Current assignee: Marshalls Mono Ltd
Priority date: 2002-06-06
Filing date: 2003-05-29
Publication date: 2003-12-18
Anticipated expiration: 2004-12-06
Also published as: AU2003241017A1; GB0212954D0

Abstract

Apparatus is provided for use in assembling blocks into an array, each block having a first axis and a second axis, the array being such that the axes of some blocks (26) are at a desired angle to the first axis of other blocks (27), the apparatus comprising means (24) to support the first row of blocks, the first axis of these blocks being parallel and aligned in a first direction, means to support a second row of blocks, the first axis of the blocks of the second row being parallel and aligned in a second direction, the first direction differing from the second direction by the said desired angle, first moving means (22a) to move blocks in the first row into a position in which they take up a staggered configuration with their first axis still parallel and second moving means (23a) operable to move the blocks of the second row into a position in which they take up a staggered configuration abutting the staggered blocks in the first row, with the first axis of the second block parallel and aligned at said desired angle to the first axis of the blocks in the second row. The apparatus enables blocks to be pre-laid in a herringbone pattern, which normally has to be done by hand. The invention thus avoids a time consuming and costly process.

Description

APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING BLOCKS

The invention relates to assembling apparatus and particularly to apparatus for assembling blocks into a desired array.

In this specification, the term "block" includes various forms of building component, including paving blocks and walling bricks.

Paving blocks, which are frequently rectangular, are generally packed, after manufacture, into rectangular stacks in which the blocks are arranged in a plurality of side by side rows. Packs of blocks are then transported to a site where they are to be laid, according to the desired configuration of the user.

Frequently the user desires the blocks to be laid in a manner, which differs from the rectangular array in which they are transported to the site. Frequently the user desires an array in which the longitudinal axis of each block is at an angle to the longitudinal axis of an adjacent block, for example at an angle of 90°, as occurs with an array known as a herringbone pattern.

When blocks are to be laid in a herringbone pattern, it is necessary for the blocks to be laid by hand. This is a time consuming and therefore costly process.

It is an object of the invention to facilitate the laying of blocks using machinery.

The invention provides apparatus for use in assembling blocks into an array, each block having a first axis and a second axis, the array being such that the first axes of some blocks are at a desired angle to the first axes of other blocks, the apparatus comprising means to support a first row of blocks, the first axes of these blocks being parallel and aligned in a first direction, means to support a second row of blocks, the first axes of the blocks of the second row being parallel and aligned in a second direction, the first direction differing from the second direction by the said desired angle, first moving means to move blocks from the first row into a position in which they take up a staggered configuration with their first axes still parallel and second moving means operable to move blocks of the second row into a position in which they take up a staggered configuration abutting the staggered blocks from the first row, with the first axes of the second blocks parallel aligned at said desired angle to the first axes of the blocks in the second row.

Preferably the first moving means comprises a pushing device to push blocks from the first row into a staggered configuration against a first former.

Preferably the second moving means comprises a second pushing device operable to push blocks from the second row into a staggered configuration against a second former.

The apparatus may be such that once one desired array has been assembled, the array can be moved to a storage position so that the apparatus can then assemble at least one additional, identical array. Thus a stack of arrays can be packaged and transported to a site.

The apparatus may have a support bed on which the desired array is assembled.

The support bed may be movable from underneath the said desired array to allow the desired array to drop down into the storage position such that the bed can then be returned to the original position and an additional, identical array, can be assembled on the support bed.

By way of example specific embodiments of the invention will now be described, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1a is a diagrammatic plan view of one embodiment of assembly apparatus according to the invention, in a first position;

Figure 1b is a view on line A-A of Figure 1a;

Figure 1c is a view similar to Figure 1a, but showing the apparatus after a first array of blocks has been assembled;

Figures 2 to 11 are diagrams illustrating various stages in the assembly of paving blocks into a desired array, utilising the machine shown in Figures 1a to 1c; and

Figures 12 to 15 are plan views showing various different arrays which can be produced using the machine shown in Figures 1a to 1c.

Components of the machine shown in Figure 2 comprise a first, fixed stop 20 having a stepped configuration, a second movable stop 21 having a similar configuration, a first pusher 22 powered by a ram 22a and a second pusher 23 powered by a ram 23a. Pushers 22 and 23 also have a stepped configuration.

The components 20 to 23 are arranged on a flat bed 24 and before the first operation of the machine a supply of rectangular paving blocks is positioned on the bed, some blocks 26 being positioned in a series of first rows and some blocks 27 being positioned in a series of second rows. The longitudinal axes of the blocks 26 are parallel and extend in a first direction 28. The longitudinal axes of the blocks 27 are also parallel, but extend in a second direction 29. The direction 29 is at right angles to the direction 28.

In the first operation one row 30 of the blocks 26 is moved into the position shown in Figure 2 in front of the first pusher 22. Another row of blocks 31 from the supply 27 is moved into a position adjacent the second pusher 23. In the second operation, as shown in Figure 3, the pusher 22 moves across the bed and this causes the steps of the pusher 22 to progressively engage with the ends of the blocks 30 causing them to adopt a staggered configuration. Movement of the pusher 22 continues until the blocks 30 reach the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, in which they abut the moveable stop 21.

In the third operation shown in Figure 4, the first pusher 22 is retracted, but the second pusher 23 is extended to act in a similar manner on the row of blocks 31 pushing these blocks across the bed until they eventually adopt the staggered configuration shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, in which they abut against the blocks 30 in a herringbone manner.

As best seen in Figures 1a and 1b, the bed 24 comprises two support plates 24a and 24b. Support plate 24a has a hydraulic drive ram 24c connected to a fixed point so that a plate 24a can be moved back and forth, taking with it the plate 24b. During the first operation of the apparatus, the plates 24a and 24b are adjacent to one another to form a continuous surface.

As best seen in Figure 1b, the stop 21 is fixed to the plate 24b. The fixed stop 20 is positioned slightly above the plate 24b, to allow stop 21 to pass under, during the operations described below.

In the operation shown in Figure 5, the plates 24a and 24b are moved together, by the ram 24c, taking with them the fixed stop 20 and the two staggered rows of blocks. This movement continues until the movable stop 21 reaches a second position nearer to the fixed stop 20. The first pusher 22 and the second pusher 23 then operate one after the other to add two further rows of blocks to the gradually increasing array as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. In the operation shown in Figure 6, the plates 24a and 24b move to stop 21 to index another intermediate position and the pushers 22 and 23 operate yet again to add fifth and sixth rows of blocks.

In the operation shown in Figure 7, the moveable stop 21 reaches a position immediately below the fixed stop 20 and the pushers 22 and 23 are operated once again to add final staggered rows of blocks to the array, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 7.

In the operation shown in Figure 8, side guide members 32 and 33 are moved into engagement with the completed array 34 to help retain the assembled array of blocks in the position shown.

Although during the operations described above, the plates 24a and 24b operate as one continuous unit, the plate 24b is now moved away from the plate 24a by a further hydraulic ram 24d connected between the two plates.

The assembled array remains in the same position because the blocks are of such a height that they abut against the fixed stop 20 and are prevented from moving. Figure 1b shows particularly well how the plate 24b can slide away from the plate 24a to leave a gap 24e.

Another support, for example a pallet (not shown) is positioned immediately below the gap 24e so that the first assembled array drops onto this pallet. This operation is shown in Figure 9.

In the operation shown in Figure 10, the pallet is lowered by the depth of one block so that the array 34 takes up the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 10, just below the bed 24.

The plate 24b is then returned by the ram 24d to its original position, adjacent to plate 24a. The other components of the apparatus then return to their original positions, as shown in Figure 11 and all the above described operations are repeated to assembly another array, which can in turn be deposited on top of the first array 34.

Thus, a plurality of identical herringbone arrays can be assembled one on top of the other on the pallet. This assembly of blocks can then be packaged up and be transported to a site for laying.

Instead of having to lay individual locks by hand, as is the case with prior art rectangular packages of blocks, a machine having staggered side guides can pick up an array, which retains its herringbone configuration as shown at 34 in the figures, and deposit this array on prepared ground. Identical arrays can subsequently be positioned adjacent to the first array to assembly any desired area of block paving with a herringbone configuration.

It will be appreciated that by selecting different numbers of blocks, and varying the way in which the components of the apparatus operate their cycle, different sizes of array can be assembled. Figures 12 to 15 show just four examples.

Figure 12 illustrates an 8 x 8 array, which is the assembly which has just been described above. However an 8 x 6 array is also possible, as shown in Figure 13.

Figure 14 shows a 12 x 4 array and Figure 15 shows a 6 x 4 array.

Although this embodiment is arranged to assemble a stack of arrays, one on top of the other, using the two part bed described above, a stack of arrays may be assembled in other ways, for example by using an appropriately shaped grab to pick up one array and move it onto the top of another array. Although all the steps described above are described in this embodiment, as happening one after the other, some operations can be arranged to occur concurrently, where they do not conflict with other operations.

Although the blocks are pushed into the staggered configuration using pushers having a stepped shape, the blocks may be pushed in other ways, for example by using a plurality of separate fingers arranged in a staggered configuration.

Although Figures 12 to 15 show various arrays in which the blocks have a length to width ratio of 2:1 the principle of the invention can be adapted to assemble arrays of blocks having different ratios.

The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use in assembling blocks into an array, each block having a first axis and a second axis, the array being such that the first axes of some

5 blocks are at a desired angle to the first axes of other blocks, the apparatus comprising means to support a first row of blocks, the first axes of these blocks being parallel and aligned in a first direction, means to support a second row of blocks, the first axes of the blocks of the second row being parallel and aligned in a second direction, the first direction differing from the second direction by o the said desired angle, first moving means to move blocks from the first row into a position in which they take up a staggered configuration with their first axes still parallel and second moving means operable to move blocks of the second row into a position in which they take up a staggered configuration abutting the staggered blocks from the first row, with the first axes of the s second blocks parallel and aligned at said desired angle to the first axes of the blocks in the second row.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, in which the first moving means comprises a pushing device to push blocks from the first row into a staggered o configuration against a first former.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, in which the second moving means comprises a second pushing device operable to push blocks from the second row into a staggered configuration against a second former. 5

4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, such that once one desired array has been assembled, the array can be moved to a storage position so that the apparatus can then assemble at least one additional, identical array. 0

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, having a support bed on which the desired array is assembled.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 5, in which the support bed is movable from underneath the said desired array to allow the desired array to drop down into the storage position such that the bed can then be returned to the original position and an additδional identical array, can be assembled on the support bed.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the moving means comprise rams.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 or Claim 3 in which the, or each, former has a stepped configuration.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, adaptable to assemble arrays made up of different numbers of blocks.

10-Apparatus constructed and arranged substantially as herein described, with reference to the accompanying drawings.