Patent ID: 6793476
Filing Date: 2004-09-21
Classification: B28B

Abstract:
An apparatus for embossing green brick having longitudinal and transverse dimensions, first and second edge faces, upper and lower faces, a forward end face and a rearward end face to provide an aged effect, said apparatus comprising:a) a flat work table having a lengthwise dimension extending between upstream and downstream ends of said work table and a transverse dimension and having an upper surface supporting a grid array of brick comprising plural lengthwise aligned rows of brick and plural transverse aligned rows of brick; b) a first transverse row of embossing devices positioned above the work table, each of said embossing devices being aligned with alternate ones of said lengthwise aligned rows; c) a second transverse row of embossing devices positioned downstream of said first transverse row of embossing devices with each embossing device being aligned with one of the lengthwise extending rows that is not aligned with any of the embossing devices of said first transverse row of embossing devices; d) a pusher for indexing transverse rows of green brick in a downstream direction on said work table a distance equal the longitudinal dimension of each brick; e) said embossing devices each including a die mounted for linear downward vertical movement toward said work table to engage a stationary green brick positioned beneath the respective embossing device; and f) control means for sequentially actuating said pusher and said embossing devices to move said pusher from a home position to an extended position to move said transverse row of green brick on to the work table a distance equal to the length of the green brick followed by both return of the pusher to the home position and simultaneous actuation of all of said embossing devices and subsequent initiation of a second cycle of operation.