Abstract: The present invention relates to a brick cutting and handling apparatus having a movable wire bank cutter assembly. The wire bank cutter assembly is movably confined within a holding frame structure and is movable generally vertically up and down therein in a rectilinear fashion. As a respective brick slug is pushed through the wire bank cutter assembly, the wire bank cutter assembly is moved generally downwardly. This vertical downward movement tends to form a swirl-like configuration on opposite sides of the individual cut brick. Further, roots, sprigs and other such debris are often caught on the respective wires of the wire bank cutter assembly as respective brick slugs are pushed therethrough. This vertical up and down movement of the wire bank cutter assembly tends to pull such roots, sprigs, etc., from the respective slugs and once pulled from the slug or slugs, these same roots, sprigs, etc., are stripped therefrom.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a brick handling system for conveying brick slugs to and through a slug cutting device such as a wire bank cutter. More particularly, the system comprises an off bearing belt that conveys slugs to a discharge point where an over-hanging pusher-puller assembly acts to pull one slugs off said off bearing belt onto a slug support. After this a second slug is transferred to the discharge point such that said first and second slugs are horizontally aligned and disposed in side-by-side relationship. At this point, the same pusher-puller assembly is operative to engage said first slug on said slug support and push the same towards said second slug, engaging said second slug and continuing to transfer both first and second slugs across said conveyor towards the wire bank cutter.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for cutting, grouping and stacking brick wherein after cutting and grouping, selected courses are inverted and stacked on other uninverted courses to form two course high stacks with the respective bricks being stacked face to face in order to assure uniform face color after the bricks have been cured and dried. As a part of the method, rows of single course cut brick are accumulated on a receiving table after exiting from a brick cutting assembly, and selected bricks are transferred from the receiving table to an inverter where they are inverted and deposited back on a course of single high uninverted brick to form a two course stack with the respective bricks being stacked face to face. The formed two course high stack is then transferred to where the same is ultimately loaded onto a kiln car for curing and drying.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for hacking brick specifically involving the stacking of uncured or green brick into a two course high brick stack prior to the bricks being transferred and stacked onto a kiln car for curing and drying. As a part of the method and apparatus of the present invention, slugs of brick material are received and successively pushed by a first pusher through a wire type brick cutter onto a receiving table, each slug resulting in a series of aligned bricks disposed in side-by-side relationship and referred to as a brick row. A vertically movable elevator assembly is mounted adjacent the supply table and includes at least two vertically spaced receiving levels formed therein with each receiving level being adapted to receive and support a row of bricks. As the elevator assembly is actuated up and down, individual brick rows are pushed into each of the respective receiving levels of the elevator assembly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for hacking and stacking brick. Brick slugs are received on an off bearing belt and transferred to a discharge area. At the discharge area, a pusher on a fore stroke engages a slug on the off bearing belt and pushes the same onto a receiving area. While the slug is being pushed on the fore stroke, another slug arrives at the discharge area, and the pusher on the aft stroke engages this slug and pushes the same off the other side of the off bearing belt onto an elevator assembly aligned with the off bearing belt which then moves up to a raised position aligned with a second receiving area. A second pusher driven in time relationship with the other pusher then moves the brick slug from the raised elevator assembly onto the second receiving area.