Abstract: A loader for an automatic brick placing machine consisting of a frame (14) attached to a receptacle (10) of the machine to move with it. The loader having a plurality of stations for the reception of bricks for loading into the receptacle and an arrangement of rollers, stops and conveyors (16, 17, 20, 22) to space the bricks apart at an appropriate distance and to move them towards the receptacle while arranging the bricks in such a manner that bricks in the correct positions and quantities are fed to the receptacle (10) to form a brick panel of a predetermined configuration. The whole being controlled by a programmable logic controller.

Abstract: Method for making a transportable brick panel in which a mold on which a brick panel is to be formed is set out, with the mold including a substantially flat bottom surface. A soft deformable membrane is laid over the bottom surface, with the membrane being such as to form a seal around face edges of bricks placed on it to prevent fine cementitious particles in mortar placed between the bricks from contaminating faces of the bricks. The deformable membrane is also such as to inhibit movement of bricks placed on the membrane. Courses of brickwork are arranged in the mold on the membrane, with individual bricks being substantially evenly spaced apart with spaces therebetween for receiving fluid mortar in the spaces. Reinforcing bars are arranged to pass through aligned holes in columns of bricks so as to structurally extend through the top and bottom courses of bricks. Fluid mortar is poured to fill the spaces between the individual bricks and penetrate holes in the bricks.