A mortar applicator includes: a duct; a piston movably mounted within the duct, dividing the duct into first and second variable volume chambers; a pump fluidly connected to the first variable volume chamber; a nozzle operatively connected to a first end of the duct to discharge mortar contained in the first variable volume chamber; and a motor operatively connected to the piston. A rack and pinion assembly operatively connects the motor to the piston and includes a rack configured to drive the piston and a pinion connected to the motor. In a discharge mode, the motor drives the rack and pinion assembly, moving the piston to force mortar through the nozzle opening to discharge mortar from the mortar applicator. In a refill mode, the pump fills the first variable volume chamber with mortar, forcing the piston to retract. The rack moves with the piston in the discharge and refill modes.

A mortar applicator includes: a duct having a first end and a second end; a piston movably mounted within the duct, the piston dividing the duct into first and second variable volume chambers on opposite sides of the piston; a piston actuator operatively connected to the piston, the piston actuator being operable to move the piston within the duct; a nozzle assembly located at the first end of the duct, the nozzle assembly having a tip defining a nozzle opening in fluid communication with the first variable volume chamber to discharge mortar contained therein; and a cover member selectively movable between an open position and a closed position to respectively allow and prevent mortar to be discharged through the nozzle opening; a cover member actuator operatively connected to the cover member, the cover member actuator being operable to move the cover member between the open position and the closed position.

A Mortar Delivery System is described. The Mortar Delivery System provides precise control of the delivery and application of mortar in addition to the mixing and tempering of mortar. Such control eliminates the use of a hand trowel in brick, block and stone laying applications. Sensing and control are integrated with the Mortar Delivery System to make it an important element of a robotic brick laying system. The Mortar Delivery System contains sensors to measure mortar viscosity and workability, mortar flow rate, and mortar nozzle pressure. The data from the Mortar Delivery System sensors can be used to change the rotational speed of the shear blades, change the amount of water being used for mixing or tempering, and change the delivery speed of the mortar. Such changes result in precise control of mortar that is in turn suitable for automated or semi-automated building processes.

A method for continuously extruding and depositing an unbroken layer of a slurry or mortar onto a selected work surface uses a mortar gun assembly with a chamber for receiving mortar from a remote supply hopper and an extruder configured to selectively apply a bead or ribbon of mortar of selected thickness onto the work surface. The user selectively applies mortar by controlling a rotating port valve between the hopper and the mortar gun chamber, and the rotating port valve provides a rest state in which the mortar is not sent to the mortar gun, but is instead re-circulated by the pump back to the hopper so un-dispensed mortar is kept moving and cannot dry or set.

A method for continuously extruding and depositing an unbroken layer of a slurry or mortar onto a selected work surface uses a mortar gun assembly with a chamber for receiving mortar from a remote supply hopper and an extruder configured to selectively apply a bead or ribbon of mortar of selected thickness onto the work surface. The user selectively applies mortar by controlling a rotating port valve between the hopper and the mortar gun chamber, and the rotating port valve provides a rest state in which the mortar is not sent to the mortar gun, but is instead re-circulated by the pump back to the hopper so un-dispensed mortar is kept moving and cannot dry or set.

A method for continuously extruding and depositing an unbroken layer of a slurry or mortar onto a selected work surface uses a mortar gun assembly with a chamber for receiving mortar from a remote supply hopper and an extruder configured to selectively apply a bead or ribbon of mortar of selected thickness onto the work surface. The user selectively applies mortar by controlling a rotating port valve between the hopper and the mortar gun chamber, and the rotating port valve provides a rest state in which the mortar is not sent to the mortar gun, but is instead re-circulated by the pump back to the hopper so un-dispensed mortar is kept moving and cannot dry or set.

A Mortar Delivery System is described. The Mortar Delivery System provides precise control of the delivery and application of mortar in addition to the mixing and tempering of mortar. Such control eliminates the use of a hand trowel in brick, block and stone laying applications. Sensing and control are integrated with the Mortar Delivery System to make it an important element of a robotic brick laying system. The Mortar Delivery System contains sensors to measure mortar viscosity and workability, mortar flow rate, and mortar nozzle pressure. The data from the Mortar Delivery System sensors can be used to change the rotational speed of the shear blades, change the amount of water being used for mixing or tempering, and change the delivery speed of the mortar. Such changes result in precise control of mortar that is in turn suitable for automated or semi-automated building processes.

A mortar applicator includes: a duct; a piston movably mounted within the duct, dividing the duct into first and second variable volume chambers; a pump fluidly connected to the first variable volume chamber; a nozzle operatively connected to a first end of the duct to discharge mortar contained in the first variable volume chamber; and a motor operatively connected to the piston. A rack and pinion assembly operatively connects the motor to the piston and includes a rack configured to drive the piston and a pinion connected to the motor. In a discharge mode, the motor drives the rack and pinion assembly, moving the piston to force mortar through the nozzle opening to discharge mortar from the mortar applicator. In a refill mode, the pump fills the first variable volume chamber with mortar, forcing the piston to retract. The rack moves with the piston in the discharge and refill modes.

A mortar applicator includes: a duct having a first end and a second end; a piston movably mounted within the duct, the piston dividing the duct into first and second variable volume chambers on opposite sides of the piston; a piston actuator operatively connected to the piston, the piston actuator being operable to move the piston within the duct; a nozzle assembly located at the first end of the duct, the nozzle assembly having a tip defining a nozzle opening in fluid communication with the first variable volume chamber to discharge mortar contained therein; and a cover member selectively movable between an open position and a closed position to respectively allow and prevent mortar to be discharged through the nozzle opening; a cover member actuator operatively connected to the cover member, the cover member actuator being operable to move the cover member between the open position and the closed position.

The mortar-dispensing device includes a hopper, a trowel, an extruder, a battery, and an operator control. The mortar-dispensing device may be a tool for applying mortar to a substrate in preparation for laying tile. The hopper may be configured to hold the mortar prior to application of the mortar to the substrate. The trowel may rake the mortar to create a bed of mortar comprising mortar ridges. The extruder may force the mortar out of the hopper through the bottom of the hopper. The extruder may be energized by the battery under control of the operator control.