AUTOMATIC APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF EARTHENWARE OR STONEWARE PIPES

1,246,063. Moulding pipes. KERAMIKMASCHINEN GÍRLITZ VEB. 15 Oct., 1969, No. 50676/69. Addition to 1,216,807. Heading B5A. Automatic apparatus as described in the parent Specification for the continuous production of earthenware pipes 24, Fig. 1, in a vertically downward direction has modified means for receiving a pipe from a vertically reciprocable table 8 and setting it down on a conveyer 3, such means comprising a suction gripper 23 on a lever 76 pivoted at 73 to an end of a second lever 69 pivoted at 67 to a carriage 56 movable transversely of the conveyer 3 and supported on rails 55. Whilst the pipe 24 is being cut from the extrudate it is gripped by the gripper and the table 8 lowered whereupon an hydraulic motor swings the lever 76 and hence the pipe to a horizontal position; a second hydraulic motor then swings the lever 69 about its pivot 67 to a vertical position to bring the pipe to a set down position on the opposite side of the carriage. During such pivoting movements the carriage is moved along its track by an hydraulic motor 60, 61 on the carriage, the piston-rod 61 of which is secured at 64 whereby the pipe is conveyed to an appropriate position on the conveyer 3. During the return movement of the carriage to receive a further pipe the levers 69, 76 are returned to the position of Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 3 there are two such carriages which operate alternately to transfer pipes from tables 8 disposed below a pair of extrusion cylinders 5, 6; the rail 55 is extended to both sides of the conveyer 3 enabling the pipes to be handled adjacent the conveyer.