CA1085771A - Procedure in timber sorting conveyors - Google Patents
Procedure in timber sorting conveyorsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1085771A CA1085771A CA295,079A CA295079A CA1085771A CA 1085771 A CA1085771 A CA 1085771A CA 295079 A CA295079 A CA 295079A CA 1085771 A CA1085771 A CA 1085771A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- timber
- supporting members
- stop arm
- members
- conveyor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
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Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The invention provides a timber sorting apparatus comprising a plurality of connecting rods extending transversely across two parallel conveyors, a plurality of timber supporting members fixed to each of the connecting rods and projecting therefrom in the direction of the conveyors, triggering mechanisms disposed above the supporting members arranged to operate in the intervals between the connecting rods, each triggering mechanism including a stop arm linearly movable between an extended position in which it projects between the connecting members to displace tubes on the supporting members affixed thereto and, a retracted position clear of the connect-ing members, the stop arm being arranged to retract after the displacement of a timber, before the arrival of the following connecting member.
The invention provides a timber sorting apparatus comprising a plurality of connecting rods extending transversely across two parallel conveyors, a plurality of timber supporting members fixed to each of the connecting rods and projecting therefrom in the direction of the conveyors, triggering mechanisms disposed above the supporting members arranged to operate in the intervals between the connecting rods, each triggering mechanism including a stop arm linearly movable between an extended position in which it projects between the connecting members to displace tubes on the supporting members affixed thereto and, a retracted position clear of the connect-ing members, the stop arm being arranged to retract after the displacement of a timber, before the arrival of the following connecting member.
Description
10857~
The invention relates to a timber sorting apparatus.
In the sawmill industry, when dealing with timber, many steps are involved which require much manual labour. One of them consists in the operation of the timber sorting con-veyors, where the timber is sorted into se~arate groups accord-ing to its dimensions, length or quality.
The general aim of the present invention is to mechanize and automate the work steps mentioned.
In prior art various automatic, so-called dropping sorters are known, all of which are appropriate for their purpose, but since smaller sawmills where the requiremënt of sorting capacity is not particularly high will require auto-matic sorters, it is necessary ~o find for such mills a sorter which is reliable in service and inexpensive. The object of the invention is to provide such a sorter.
The timber sorters known in prior art are of a con-struction in which the timber pieces are transported in support of supports affixed to chains and having substantially the form of a letter L, above sorting compartments for instance.
The removal (triggering) of the timber is accomplished substantially as follows in connection with said conveyors.
The first procedure is that in which the L-shaped supports are turned, whereby the piece that has been travelling in their support will slide down (as an example, reference is made to the Swedish Patent No. 63942). The second way of accomplishing the same has been that in which the L supports are fixed and an obstacle is released or moved to interpose itself before the support and whereby the piece is pushed off the support.
; (As an example, the U.S. Patent No. 1,706,632 is cited.) Regarding a third procedure, reference is made to the supporters disclosed in the Finnish Patent No. 44783, where the lower retainer is moved out of the way in connection with dropping a - 1 - ~ . . .
;
108577:1 timber piece.
The sorting conveyors now discussed may furthermore be divided into two types. Regarding the first, reference is made to a design wherein the L supports have been directly affixed to the conveyor chains, of which there must be four or five in parallel, owing to the great variation in length of the timber. These sorters most often apply the mode of operation mentioned in the second place above.
In the other design which has been employed, the L
supports have been attached to a connecting tube or beam, and these tubes or beams in their turn are attached to the chains of the sorting conveyor, whereby only two such chains are required side by side. In this design usually that mode of operation is applied which has been mentioned first in the foregoing. The latter design is less expensive than the first because there are only two conveyor chains and because the frame structure of the sorter will be substantially narrower and simpler. It is further observed that the above-mentioned fixed supports are advantageous owing to the fact that they are simple to manufacture and involve no moving parts.
According to the present invention there is provided a timber sorting apparatus comprising a pair of parallel conveyor chains having a lower run and an upper run, transverse connecting bars rigidly attached to said chains, a plurality of timber supporting member rigidly attached to each of said connecting bars and extending in a direction parallel to the conveyor chains, said supporting members of each said connecting bar being adapted to carry a timber piece lying transversely thereto only on a ~ ~ .
terminal portion thereof said terminal portion being displaced from said connecting bars in said direction parallel to the ~ ~-conveyor by a predetermined distance, a plurality of fixed triggering mechanisms disposed along the apparatus above the ,~
~~
108577~
lower run at a series of discharge stations, each triggering mechanism being arranged to dislodge selectively timber pieces carried by the supporting members and allow them to fall into sorting bins arranged below each of said discharge stations, each triggering mechanism comprising at least one stop arm movable between an extended position in which said stop arm extends into the path of the timber pieces on the support arms to dislodge them therefrom and a retracted position above the path of the timberpieces and the connecting bars so as not to interfere therewith, and means for selectively actuating said stop arm as said connecting members pass the triggering mechanism such that said stop arm is extended after the passage of one connecting member and retracted before the arrival of the following member taking advantage of said predetermined distance to allow sufficient time therefor.
' .
-2a- .
B ;~
~ ~ .
~- 108S771 It is an essential feature of the invention that the triggering mechanism may be accommodated above the L supports, whereby they may be attached to the same frame structure as the conveyor's supporting structures. In those designs of prior art in which the triggering mechanism have been located below the L supports, a specific rigid supporting structure has been required for them, carried out either with a partition or with supporting brackets.
In the apparatus of prior art with two chains and between them a connecting tube, and with fixed L supports on the tubes, overhead dropping means could not be used because the connecting tube is in the way. In the design of the present ;
invention what has just been said is possible, and thereby the application of the procedure of the invention affords a sorting conveyor which is reliable in service and inexpensive.
~.
, The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a sort- ~ , ing installation employing a sorting conveyor according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a partial elevational view of a sorting conveyor similar to that shown in Figure 1, but having a different arrangement of sorting members; ~ `
Fig. 3 is a view similar to that in Fig. 2 of the ~-sorting conveyor shown in Figure l; and ~, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sorting conveyor shown in Fig. 3.
( I .
As shown in Fig. 1, a feed conveyor 10 supplies timber pieces to the sorting conveyor, which comprises two conveyor chains 15 or equivalent conveyor bands arranged side by side (Fig. 4) and to which timber supporting members 16 have been attached. Owing to the great variation in length of the timbers, there are four supporting members 16 in line, as can be seen in Fig. 4. In Fig. 1, the timber piece a is in the progress of being transferred from the feed conveyor 10 to the supports 16 of the sorting conveyors. The return wheels of the sorting conveyor have been indicated by the reference numeral 23 in Fig. 1.
The timber pieces resting on the support members 16 are dropped in accordance with their dimension, length:and/or quality into separate collecting carriages 20, which carriages may be moved out of their position shown in Fig. 1, on their wheels 21 along the tracks 22. The dropping is accomplished with the aid of a triggering mechanism, an operating member of which has been denoted 17. In Fig. 1, the timber piece b is in the process of falling into the transporting carriage 20 positioned underneath, because the stop arm l9a has been brought into position before this particular timher piece.
As can best be seen from Fig. 4, the conveyor chains 15 have attached to them connecting rods 14 which are transvers~
3 to the chains and which are constituted, for instance, by box-type beams. These connecting rods in their turn carry supporting members 16a,16b which are integrally affixed to them. As shown in Fig. 2, the supporting members 16a connect with extension arms 24a, and these in their turn have been attached to the connecting rods 14. The supporting members 16a and their extension arms 24a have been so positioned that the extension arms 24a point forwardly with reference to the direction of travel A of the conveyor chain 15. When the stop arm l9a is triggered to position itself before the timber piece _ in the interval _ between two connecting rods 14, the stop arm 19a _ 4 _ will push the timher piece _ off the supporting members 16a, and thereafter, owing to the use of extension arms 24a, the stop arms l9a still have a time equivalent to the traversing of the distance _ in which they may withdraw into their original position, before the next connecting rod 14 arrives.
The triggering mechanisms according to Fig. 2 as well as those of Fig. 3 have been disposed above the plane of the ;~
conveyor chain and they have been mounted on the frame structures of the sorting conveyor. As shown in Fig. 3, the triggering ! 10 mechanism comprises a horizontal arm 12 and several stop arms l9a projecting therefrom. The rod 13 has been fitted ~o he turnable by mediation of the arm 18 and by action of the power means 17.
In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the presence of the extension arm 24b of the supporting members 16b affords for the stop arms l9a, after the connecting rod 14, the space f before ~;
the arrival of the leading edge of the timber pieces b, to turn down in front of the timber piece b in order to drop it down into the sorting compartment underneath. In Fig. 3, the right-hand triggering mechanism has been shown in its upper position. ~ ~;
, , L
:i~, .
'
The invention relates to a timber sorting apparatus.
In the sawmill industry, when dealing with timber, many steps are involved which require much manual labour. One of them consists in the operation of the timber sorting con-veyors, where the timber is sorted into se~arate groups accord-ing to its dimensions, length or quality.
The general aim of the present invention is to mechanize and automate the work steps mentioned.
In prior art various automatic, so-called dropping sorters are known, all of which are appropriate for their purpose, but since smaller sawmills where the requiremënt of sorting capacity is not particularly high will require auto-matic sorters, it is necessary ~o find for such mills a sorter which is reliable in service and inexpensive. The object of the invention is to provide such a sorter.
The timber sorters known in prior art are of a con-struction in which the timber pieces are transported in support of supports affixed to chains and having substantially the form of a letter L, above sorting compartments for instance.
The removal (triggering) of the timber is accomplished substantially as follows in connection with said conveyors.
The first procedure is that in which the L-shaped supports are turned, whereby the piece that has been travelling in their support will slide down (as an example, reference is made to the Swedish Patent No. 63942). The second way of accomplishing the same has been that in which the L supports are fixed and an obstacle is released or moved to interpose itself before the support and whereby the piece is pushed off the support.
; (As an example, the U.S. Patent No. 1,706,632 is cited.) Regarding a third procedure, reference is made to the supporters disclosed in the Finnish Patent No. 44783, where the lower retainer is moved out of the way in connection with dropping a - 1 - ~ . . .
;
108577:1 timber piece.
The sorting conveyors now discussed may furthermore be divided into two types. Regarding the first, reference is made to a design wherein the L supports have been directly affixed to the conveyor chains, of which there must be four or five in parallel, owing to the great variation in length of the timber. These sorters most often apply the mode of operation mentioned in the second place above.
In the other design which has been employed, the L
supports have been attached to a connecting tube or beam, and these tubes or beams in their turn are attached to the chains of the sorting conveyor, whereby only two such chains are required side by side. In this design usually that mode of operation is applied which has been mentioned first in the foregoing. The latter design is less expensive than the first because there are only two conveyor chains and because the frame structure of the sorter will be substantially narrower and simpler. It is further observed that the above-mentioned fixed supports are advantageous owing to the fact that they are simple to manufacture and involve no moving parts.
According to the present invention there is provided a timber sorting apparatus comprising a pair of parallel conveyor chains having a lower run and an upper run, transverse connecting bars rigidly attached to said chains, a plurality of timber supporting member rigidly attached to each of said connecting bars and extending in a direction parallel to the conveyor chains, said supporting members of each said connecting bar being adapted to carry a timber piece lying transversely thereto only on a ~ ~ .
terminal portion thereof said terminal portion being displaced from said connecting bars in said direction parallel to the ~ ~-conveyor by a predetermined distance, a plurality of fixed triggering mechanisms disposed along the apparatus above the ,~
~~
108577~
lower run at a series of discharge stations, each triggering mechanism being arranged to dislodge selectively timber pieces carried by the supporting members and allow them to fall into sorting bins arranged below each of said discharge stations, each triggering mechanism comprising at least one stop arm movable between an extended position in which said stop arm extends into the path of the timber pieces on the support arms to dislodge them therefrom and a retracted position above the path of the timberpieces and the connecting bars so as not to interfere therewith, and means for selectively actuating said stop arm as said connecting members pass the triggering mechanism such that said stop arm is extended after the passage of one connecting member and retracted before the arrival of the following member taking advantage of said predetermined distance to allow sufficient time therefor.
' .
-2a- .
B ;~
~ ~ .
~- 108S771 It is an essential feature of the invention that the triggering mechanism may be accommodated above the L supports, whereby they may be attached to the same frame structure as the conveyor's supporting structures. In those designs of prior art in which the triggering mechanism have been located below the L supports, a specific rigid supporting structure has been required for them, carried out either with a partition or with supporting brackets.
In the apparatus of prior art with two chains and between them a connecting tube, and with fixed L supports on the tubes, overhead dropping means could not be used because the connecting tube is in the way. In the design of the present ;
invention what has just been said is possible, and thereby the application of the procedure of the invention affords a sorting conveyor which is reliable in service and inexpensive.
~.
, The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of a sort- ~ , ing installation employing a sorting conveyor according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a partial elevational view of a sorting conveyor similar to that shown in Figure 1, but having a different arrangement of sorting members; ~ `
Fig. 3 is a view similar to that in Fig. 2 of the ~-sorting conveyor shown in Figure l; and ~, Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sorting conveyor shown in Fig. 3.
( I .
As shown in Fig. 1, a feed conveyor 10 supplies timber pieces to the sorting conveyor, which comprises two conveyor chains 15 or equivalent conveyor bands arranged side by side (Fig. 4) and to which timber supporting members 16 have been attached. Owing to the great variation in length of the timbers, there are four supporting members 16 in line, as can be seen in Fig. 4. In Fig. 1, the timber piece a is in the progress of being transferred from the feed conveyor 10 to the supports 16 of the sorting conveyors. The return wheels of the sorting conveyor have been indicated by the reference numeral 23 in Fig. 1.
The timber pieces resting on the support members 16 are dropped in accordance with their dimension, length:and/or quality into separate collecting carriages 20, which carriages may be moved out of their position shown in Fig. 1, on their wheels 21 along the tracks 22. The dropping is accomplished with the aid of a triggering mechanism, an operating member of which has been denoted 17. In Fig. 1, the timber piece b is in the process of falling into the transporting carriage 20 positioned underneath, because the stop arm l9a has been brought into position before this particular timher piece.
As can best be seen from Fig. 4, the conveyor chains 15 have attached to them connecting rods 14 which are transvers~
3 to the chains and which are constituted, for instance, by box-type beams. These connecting rods in their turn carry supporting members 16a,16b which are integrally affixed to them. As shown in Fig. 2, the supporting members 16a connect with extension arms 24a, and these in their turn have been attached to the connecting rods 14. The supporting members 16a and their extension arms 24a have been so positioned that the extension arms 24a point forwardly with reference to the direction of travel A of the conveyor chain 15. When the stop arm l9a is triggered to position itself before the timber piece _ in the interval _ between two connecting rods 14, the stop arm 19a _ 4 _ will push the timher piece _ off the supporting members 16a, and thereafter, owing to the use of extension arms 24a, the stop arms l9a still have a time equivalent to the traversing of the distance _ in which they may withdraw into their original position, before the next connecting rod 14 arrives.
The triggering mechanisms according to Fig. 2 as well as those of Fig. 3 have been disposed above the plane of the ;~
conveyor chain and they have been mounted on the frame structures of the sorting conveyor. As shown in Fig. 3, the triggering ! 10 mechanism comprises a horizontal arm 12 and several stop arms l9a projecting therefrom. The rod 13 has been fitted ~o he turnable by mediation of the arm 18 and by action of the power means 17.
In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the presence of the extension arm 24b of the supporting members 16b affords for the stop arms l9a, after the connecting rod 14, the space f before ~;
the arrival of the leading edge of the timber pieces b, to turn down in front of the timber piece b in order to drop it down into the sorting compartment underneath. In Fig. 3, the right-hand triggering mechanism has been shown in its upper position. ~ ~;
, , L
:i~, .
'
Claims (5)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A timber sorting apparatus comprising a pair of parallel conveyor chains having a lower run and an upper run, transverse connecting bars rigidly attached to said chains, a plurality of timber supporting members rigidly attached to each of said connecting bars and extending in a direction parallel to the conveyor chains, said supporting members of each said connecting bar being adapted to carry a timber piece lying transversely thereto only on a terminal portion thereof, said terminal portion being displaced from said connecting bars in said direction parallel to the conveyor by a predetermined distance, a plurality of fixed triggering mechanisms disposed along the apparatus above the lower run at a series of discharge stations, each triggering mechanism being arranged to dislodge selectively timber pieces carried by the supporting members and allow them to fall into sorting bins arranged below each of said discharge stations, each triggering mechanism comprising at least one stop arm movable between an extended position in which said stop arm extends into the path of the timber pieces on the support arms to dislodge them therefrom and a retracted position above the path of the timber pieces and the connecting bars so as not to interfere therewith, and means for selectively actuating said stop arm as said connecting members pass the triggering mechanism such that said stop arm is extended after the passage of one connecting member and retracted before the arrival of the following member taking advantage of said predetermined distance to allow sufficient time therefor.
2. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the connecting members are in front of their associated supporting members relative to the direction of movement of the conveyors and the stop arm is arranged so that, when it is actuated, it extends into said predetermined distance to dislodge the timber piece and then is subsequently retracted before the arrival of the following connecting member.
3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said supporting members are placed, as seen in the direction of travel of the conveyor chains, ahead of their respective connect-ing members, and the stop arm is arranged so that, when actuated, it extends into said extended position after the passage of one connecting member to dislodge a timber piece supported by the supporting members of the following connecting member, and then is subsequently retracted before the arrival of said following member from said predetermined distance.
4. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said supporting members have a stepped construction with said terminal portion forming a lower step thereof.
5. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the terminal portion of said supporting members is folded back under itself to define a ledge for carrying the timber pieces.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA295,079A CA1085771A (en) | 1978-01-17 | 1978-01-17 | Procedure in timber sorting conveyors |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA295,079A CA1085771A (en) | 1978-01-17 | 1978-01-17 | Procedure in timber sorting conveyors |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1085771A true CA1085771A (en) | 1980-09-16 |
Family
ID=4110558
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA295,079A Expired CA1085771A (en) | 1978-01-17 | 1978-01-17 | Procedure in timber sorting conveyors |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1085771A (en) |
-
1978
- 1978-01-17 CA CA295,079A patent/CA1085771A/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |