Device for forming green bricks for the brick manufacturing industry

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for forming green bricks from clay for the brick manufacturing industry, comprising a circulating conveyor (3) carrying mould containers (4) provided with movable bottoms (23), a reservoir (5) for clay arranged above the mould containers (4), means for carrying clay out of the reservoir (5) into the mould containers (4), means (9) for pressing and trimming clay in the mould containers (4), means for discharging green bricks (13) released from the mould containers (4) and means (11) for supplying and placing take-off plates (12) for the green bricks (13), wherein the mould containers (4) are combined to mould container parts and one or more ejectors (24) displacing the movable bottoms (23) are connected to each mould container part, characterized in that each mould container part (4) comprises two parts (4A,4B) for mutual releasable coupling, wherein the first part (4A) comprises the walls (22) of the mould containers (4) and the second part (4B) comprises the movable bottoms (23) of the mould container parts (4). The invention also relates to a mould container part as described as a component of the device according to the invention.

Description: The invention relates to a device for forming green bricks from clay for the brick manufacturing industry, comprising a circulating conveyor carrying mould containers provided with movable bottoms, a reservoir for clay arranged above the mould containers, means for carrying clay out of the reservoir into the mould containers, means for pressing and trimming clay in the mould containers, means for discharging green bricks released from the mould containers and means for supplying and placing take-off plates for the green bricks, wherein the mould containers are combined to mould container parts and one or more ejectors displacing the movable bottoms are connected to each mould container part. Such a device is known from EP-A-0 680 812 which represents the closest prior art opposite the present invention. The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type stated in the preamble which can be made suitable at lower cost for forming green bricks of differing dimensions. For this purpose the device according to the invention has the feature that each mould container part comprises two parts for mutual releasable coupling, wherein the first part comprises the walls of the mould containers and the second part comprises the movable bottoms of the mould container parts. Simply by replacing the first part of each mould container part of the device according to the invention by another first part with different mould container dimensions, the dimensions of the green bricks to be formed with the device can be altered within certain limits. The associated costs are minimal because more expensive mechanical components such as ejectors and/or components of the conveyor do not have to be replaced. In a first preferred embodiment the movable bottoms comprise detachable bottom plates. By now also replacing the detachable bottom plates by other bottom plates with different dimensions, the dimensions of the green bricks to be formed can be adapted as required over a very wide range. In a further preferred embodiment the parts of each mould container part can be mutually coupled by means of bolts and plate-like members co-acting therewith. This is a fast and simple coupling, wherein the plate-like members can also serve as guide members when the first part is mounted on the second part. In yet another preferred embodiment the first part of the mould container part comprises two further parts for releasable coupling, which further parts comprise an outer part defining the walls of the mould container part and an inner part defining the walls of the mould containers. The materials of the outer and the inner part are preferably different. This preferred embodiment enables the device according to the invention to be made suitable in rapid and inexpensive manner for arranging a chosen structure on the green bricks for forming. For such a modification it suffices to replace only the inner part of each first mould container part. If required, the second part of the mould container part is releasably coupled to the conveyor. This enables simple replacement of the movable bottoms and/or the associated ejectors when the desired adjustment is not possible using replacement of (parts of) the first part or the second part. The invention also relates to a mould container part as described as a component of the device according to the invention. The invention is described in more detail hereinbelow with reference to the drawings in which: figure 1 shows schematically a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention; figure 2 shows a two-part embodiment of the mould container part according to the invention; figure 3 shows a three-part embodiment of the mould container part according to the invention; figure 4 shows schematically a part of the mould container part according to the invention in more detail; figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of figure 4; and figure 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the first part of the mould container part according to the invention. The device 1 for forming green bricks for the brick manufacturing industry comprises a chain conveyor 3. Mould containers combined to a unit in the form of mould container parts 4 are placed on the chain conveyor. The mould container parts fit closely against each other. Placed above the mould containers is a reservoir 5 for clay which is kept in continuous movement by an agitator 6 which is driven by the electric motor 7. Clay is supplied to reservoir 5 by a circulating conveyor 8. Clay is carried out of reservoir 5 into the mould containers and then pressed down by the pressing device 9 which is pivotable round the shaft 10. The excess clay is also trimmed using means which are not drawn. The device 11 carries take-off plates 12 onto a mould container part such that, after the mould container part has been turned over, the green bricks 13 come to lie on the plates after being released from the mould containers. Figures 2 and 3 show alternative embodiments of mould container part 4 according to the invention, i.e. a two-part embodiment (figure 2) and a three-part embodiment (figure 3). Like components are provided with like reference numerals in both figures. Alternatives are designated by means of an accent. Chain part 15 of chain conveyor 3 comprises ears 18, 19, 20 which serve as links of the chain conveyor. The different mould containers 21 are combined to a unit on mould container part 4. The displaceable bottom 23 is driven according to the invention by the ejector 24. This latter lies under bias of spring 25 which centres the ejector such that no separate guiding is necessary in chain part 15. Ejector 24 is operated by a per se known drive device (not shown) during release of the green bricks. Each mould container part 4 respectively 4' consists according to the invention of two parts 4A and 4B respectively 4A' and 4B' for mutual releasable coupling. The first part 4A comprises the walls 22 of mould containers 21. The second part 4B respectively 4B' comprises the movable bottoms 23. Both parts 4A and 4B respectively 4B' can be mutually coupled by means of washer plates 26 and bolts 27. In the three-part embodiment of figure 3 the mould container part and the chain part 15 can be uncoupled from each other. The coupling of both parts takes place using the nut-bolt connections 16 respectively 17. Figures 4 and 5 show clearly that bottom plate 23 comprises a mother plate 23b onto which a plate 23a can be releasably mounted. Plate 23a is preferably of rubber. Further shown in figure 5 is a packing strip 28 with which the depth of mould containers 21, and therefore the thickness of the green bricks, can be adjusted. Using the invention the dimensions of the green bricks can be adjusted within certain limits in very inexpensive manner by replacing the first part 4A. This is illustrated in figures 4 and 5, in which the thickness of walls 22 differs. The dimensions of the green bricks can be adjusted over a wider range by also replacing bottom plates 23a. In the two-part embodiment the possibilities of adjusting the dimensions are limited by the presence of the ejectors. It is after all important for the ejectors to be placed relative to the movable bottoms such that the green bricks are ejected rapidly without hitch. One or more ejectors can be provided per bottom if required. When the desired change in the dimensions of the mould containers cannot be realized in combination with the ejectors present, the three-part embodiment provides a solution since therein the ejectors can also be replaced. Uncoupling from and re-coupling to the chain conveyor can be dispensed with in both embodiments. In a further preferred embodiment (shown in figure 6) the first part of mould container part 4A comprises two further parts 14A and 14B for releasable coupling. The further parts consist of an outer part 14B defining the walls of the mould container part and an inner part 14A defining the walls of the mould containers. The materials of the outer part and the inner part are preferably different. The outer part can for instance be of steel, while the inner part is manufactured from wood or plastic. Parts 14A and 14B can be mutually coupled in many ways known in the field, for instance by means of nut-bolt connections 29, 30. The present invention is of course not limited to the described and illustrated embodiments but comprises all embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims: Device for forming green bricks from clay for the brick manufacturing industry, comprising a circulating conveyor (3) carrying mould containers (21) provided with movable bottoms (23), a reservoir for clay (5) arranged above the mould containers, means for carrying clay out of the reservoir into the mould containers, means for pressing and trimming clay in the mould containers, means (9) for discharging green bricks released from the mould containers and means for supplying and placing take-off plates for the green bricks, wherein several mould containers are combined together to form mould container parts (4) and one or more ejectors (24) displacing the movable bottoms are connected to each mould container part (4), characterized in that each mould container part (4) comprises two parts for mutual releasable coupling, wherein the first part (4A,4A') comprises the walls, (22) of the mould containers (21) and the second part (4B,4B') comprises the movable bottoms (23) of the mould containers (21). Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the movable bottoms (23) comprise detachable bottom plates. Device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the parts (4A,4A',4B,4B') of each mould container part (4) can be mutually coupled by means of bolts (27) and plate-like members (26) co-acting therewith. Device as claimed in claims 1-3, characterized in that the first part (4A,4A') comprises two further parts for releasable coupling, which further parts comprise an outer part (14B) defining the walls of the mould container part and an inner part (14A) defining the walls of the mould containers. Device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that the materials of the outer part (14) and the inner part (14A) are different. Device as claimed in claims 1-5, characterized in that the second part (4B,4B') of the mould container part (4) is releasably coupled to the conveyor. Mould container part (4) as described as a component of the device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the mould container part comprises two parts for mutual releasable coupling, wherein the first part (4A,4A') comprises the walls (22) of the mould containers (21) and the second part (4B,4B') comprises the movable bottoms (23) of the mould containers (21). Mould container part as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the movable bottoms (23) comprise detachable bottom plates. Mould container part as claimed in claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the parts of the mould container part (4) can be mutually coupled by means of bolts (27) and plate-like members (26) co-acting therewith. Mould container part as claimed in claims 7-9, characterized in that the first part (4A,4A') comprises two further parts for releasable coupling, which further parts comprise an outer part (14B) defining the walls of the mould container part and an inner part (14A) defining the walls of the mould containers. Mould container part as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the materials of the outer part (14B) and the inner part (14A) are different.

Inventors: KOSMAN WILHELMUS JACOBUS MARIA, KOSMAN, WILHELMUS JACOBUS MARIA
Applicants: BEHEERMIJ DE BOER NIJMEGEN B V, BEHEERMAATSCHAPPIJ DE BOER NIJMEGEN B.V.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: B28B5
IPC codes: B28B5, B28B7