CA2307401A1 - Improved log elevating conveyor - Google Patents

Improved log elevating conveyor Download PDF

Info

Publication number
CA2307401A1
CA2307401A1 CA 2307401 CA2307401A CA2307401A1 CA 2307401 A1 CA2307401 A1 CA 2307401A1 CA 2307401 CA2307401 CA 2307401 CA 2307401 A CA2307401 A CA 2307401A CA 2307401 A1 CA2307401 A1 CA 2307401A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
stair
units
unit
support structure
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.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA 2307401
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Jean-Guy Yvan Bouchard
Laurent Joseph Yvon Trudel
Joseph Andre Pascal Robitaille
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tembec Industries Inc
Original Assignee
Tembec Industries Inc
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tembec Industries Inc filed Critical Tembec Industries Inc
Priority to CA 2307401 priority Critical patent/CA2307401A1/en
Publication of CA2307401A1 publication Critical patent/CA2307401A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65GTRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS
    • B65G25/00Conveyors comprising a cyclically-moving, e.g. reciprocating, carrier or impeller which is disengaged from the load during the return part of its movement
    • B65G25/04Conveyors comprising a cyclically-moving, e.g. reciprocating, carrier or impeller which is disengaged from the load during the return part of its movement the carrier or impeller having identical forward and return paths of movement, e.g. reciprocating conveyors
    • B65G25/08Conveyors comprising a cyclically-moving, e.g. reciprocating, carrier or impeller which is disengaged from the load during the return part of its movement the carrier or impeller having identical forward and return paths of movement, e.g. reciprocating conveyors having impellers, e.g. pushers

Abstract

A log conveyor having first and second rigid stair units mounted at an incline on a support structure. Each stair unit has a plurality of risers and treads in series and the riser of one unit overlaps and is interleaved with the risers of the other unit. The stair units are mounted on the support structure by links and the units reciprocate in an arc on the inclined path. The arcs are of the same radius and off-set from one another. The stair units are connected to a linkage that is connected to a power driven crank arm.
The linkage pivots are located so that the stair units are synchronized to move 180 degrees out of phase.

Description

TITLE
IMPROVED LOG ELEVATING CONVEYOR
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates generally to a stair type log conveyor having members that reciprocate and move logs thereon forward in sequence in increments corresponding to the forward distance of travel and more particularly to improvements to the log supporting members and an improved linkage drive to move such members.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
United States Patent 5,374,157,issued Dec.20,1994 to B. Allard discloses an apparatus for unscrambling and moving logs up an inclined path. The path has a direction transverse to the length of the logs and the logs rest in notches in vertically disposed, parallel, horizontally spaced apart, plates. In the patented apparatus the logs have to longer than the spacing between the plates and thus is limited in that respect. Some of the plates are interconnected while others are not.
There is debris associated with log conveying that includes pieces of bark, chips and the like. In the above patented apparatus this debris falls between the vertically disposed plates dropping into the drive mechanism below or alternatively slides down a plate that joins together two adjacent plates and accumulates in hard to get at piles at the front of the apparatus.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
A principal object of the present invention is to provide an improved log support surface that will move not only pieces of various lengths but also short and small pieces .
A further principal object of the present invention is to provide a self cleaning log mover that moves the logs upwardly along an inclined path.
A further principal object is to provide a smooth operating rigid unit that unscrambles and conveys the logs in sequence up an inclined path.
In keeping with the forgoing objects there is provided in accordance with the present invention a log conveyor comprising a first and second pair of rigid stair flight units mounted at an incline on a support structure and each having a series of stair risers and treads, said stair risers and treads of one unit being disposed in interleaved overlapping relation with those of the other unit, a plurality of rocker arms connecting said respective stair flight units to said support structure for oscillating along respective arcs off-set a selected distance from one another, each said rocker arm being connected at spaced apart positions to said support frame and the stair unit associated therewith, and drive means for oscillating said stair units comprising a linkage system mounted on said support structure and connected to said respective stair units to oscillate the same in synchronized 180 degree out of phase relation.
LIST OF DRAWINGS
The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing wherein:
Figure 1 is an oblique partial view of applicants log conveyor;
Figure 2 is a side elevation, part broken away, view of the apparatus shown in figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view as in figure 2 but with less detail and showing the relative position of the two interleaved stairways and position of the rocker arms and drive linkages with a log at the beginning of the stairway;
Figure 4 is the same as figure 3 but with the log moved a portion of one step;
Figure 5 is the as figure 4 at the time of transfer of the log from one stair of one stair unit to a stair of the other stair unit;
Figure 6 is the same as figure 4 but with the log continuing on the second stair unit; and Figure 7 is a plan view of the stair mounting rocker arms, drive linkages and stair mounting stringers.
PREFERRED EMEiUDIMENT
Referring to the drawing there is illustrated a log conveyor comprising first and second respective rigid stair flights units 300 and 400 disposed in interleaved overlapping relation and each mounted on a common rigid support structure 100 by a plurality of rocker arms and driven by a linkage system to oscillate in synchronized 180 degree out of phase relation.
The stair flight unit 300 is a rigid assembly comprising a series of stair risers 301,302,303, and 304 resting on plurality of support members 300A,300B,300C,300D,300E and 300F that project upwardly from and are carried by a pair of spaced apart cross beams 305 and 306. The stair risers have respective stair treads 301A,302A,303A, and 304A, associated therewith.
The stair flight unit 400 is, like the flight unit 300, a rigid assembly comprising a series of stair risers 401,402,403,and 404 resting on a plurality of support members 400A,400B,400C,400D,400E and 400F that project S
upwardly from and are carried by a pair of spaced apart cross beams 405 and 406.
The support members 300A...300F and 400A...400F are so positioned as to have the stair risers of unit 300 overlapping and interleaved with the risers of unit 400 leaving sufficient room so as to allow the units to oscillate 180 degrees out of phase on their respective rocker arms, to be described hereinafter, without interfering with one another. The stairway provided by the two stair units is inclined upwardly and during operation one of the flights 300 or 400 is moving up while the other thereof is moving down the incline.
The rigid stair unit 300 is mounted on the frame structure 300 by a front pair of rocker arms 307,308 and a rear pair of rocker arms 309 and 310. The rocker arms are pivotally connected at one end to the support structure 100 and at the other end to the stair unit. The stair unit thus moves in an arc as it oscillates back and forth.
The rigid stair unit 400 is mounted on the support frame structure by a front pair of rocker arms 407 and 408 and a rear pair of rocker arms 409 and 410. The rocker arms are pivotally connected at one end to the support structure 100 and at the other end to the stair unit 400. The pivotal connections of the rocker arms are evident from figures 2 to 6 of the drawings.
Each rocker arm is generally "T" shaped and in the installed position is inverted. Since all of rocker arms are the same only one will be described in further detail.
Referring to figures 2 and 7 the rocker arm 307 has a stem 307A projecting from a long sleeve 307B with the stem being reinforced by a pair of webs or gussets 307C and 307D. A
shaft 307E passes through the sleeve 307B and is journalled therein by a pair of spaced apart tapered roller bearing units(not shown)and the shaft is securely anchored to the support structure 100 by a pair of spaced mounting blocks 307F and 3076. A pin 307H is mounted on the stem by a bearing adjacent the free outer end thereof and that pin is securely attached to the structure of the rigid unit 300 by a pair of mounting blocks 307J.
All of the rocker arms 307...310 and 407...410 are the same length and the two units 300and 400 thus have the same radius of curvature for their respective arcuate paths of travel. The positioning of the pivot axes is such that the two paths are off-set a selected distance from one another.
This permits having the edge of the stair tread of one of the units 300,400 closely adjacent the riser of the other uni t .
As previously mentioned the two units move relative to one another in opposite directions of travel without interference and in the embodiment illustrated the support structures 300A,300B etc and 400A,400B etc are in the form of webs that have notches for receiving the stair risers of the other flight unit. Referring to figure 2 the support 400A, mounted on cross beams 405 and 406, has notches A, B
and C to receive respective risers 302,303 and 304 of stair unit 300. The support 300A has notches D, E and F to receive respective risers 401,402 and 403 of stair unit 400. While the supports are shown as webs they could also be in the form of posts projecting upwardly at an angle from stringers attached to the cross beams 405,406 or 305,306 as the case may be. Also in the drawings some of the webs ie 400A, 400C
and 400F of unit 400 and 300A, 300C and 300F of unit 300 are shown as projecting through the treads and risers associated therewith but this need not be so. They can terminate at the under side of the treads and risers as do webs 3008, 300D
and 300E of unit 300 and 4008, 400D and 400F of unit 400.
The rigid stair units 300 and 400 are oscillated back and forth in their respective arcs in synchronized 180 degree out of phase relation by a drive linkage system 200 g that includes a motor 201 driving a speed reducer 201 via v-belt 203. The speed reducer 202 is mounted on the support structure 100 and has an output shaft 204 with a crank arm 205 connected thereto. The crank arm is connected by a pin 206 to one end of a link 207 and the other end of that link is connected by a pin 208 to a plate 210 that is pivotally mounted on the support structure 100 by a pivot pin 210A.
The plate 210 has pins 209 and 211 secured thereto and off-set from one another 180 degrees about the plate mounting pivot pin 210A. A link 315 is connected at one end to the pin 211 and at the other end by a pin 3I5A to the rigid stair unit 300. A link 415 is connected at one end to pin 209 and at the other end by pin 415A to the rigid stair unit 400.
In operation the motor 201 drives the speed reducer out put shaft 204 and the crank arm 205 causes the plate 210 to oscillate about the plate mounting pin 210A. With the pins 211 and 209 off-set 180 degrees the respective stair units 300 and 400 move in opposite directions. The units are synchronized so that as one of the units 300 and 400 is moving up the incline while the other is moving down at the same rate and distance in the opposite direction.
Referring to figure 3 there is illustrated a log that may be part of a pile of logs in an inlet to the conveyor that has a deflector plate lI0 securely mounted on the support structure 100. It will be noted the riser 301 is concave and this concavity corresponds to the arc through which the unit 300 moves during reciprocation. In figure 3 the log is resting on the stair tread 301A and as the unit 300 moves upwardly so does the log and at the same time the unit 400 is moving downwardly as indicated by the arrows. In figure 5 the stair tread 301A has reached its top position and the log rolls in to position to be engaged by stair tread 401A. As unit 400 travels upwardly it takes the log further along the inclined path as is illustrated in figure 6. The oscillating stair units move logs progressively from a first position to a second position at a higher elevation.
Since the stair treads will support only one log at a time a collection of logs at the infeed is unscrambled because of being moved in sequence one at a time. The unscrambler maybe used to feed logs in sequence one after another to a conveyor that is an infeed to a down stream wood processing apparatus or system.
Since the units 300 and 400 travel in equal but off-set arcs they can be closely adjacent one another without one running into interference from the other. The close 1~
proximity to the risers and treads of the two units prevents debris from dropping through and thus is carried to the top and is pushed by the last tread 404A over a plate 125 on the support structure 100 at the outlet end of the conveyor.
The plate has a convex surface corresponding to the path of travel during oscillation of the unit 400.
The rigid units are assisted by gravity on their downward direction of travel and this is transferred to the ascending unit through the drive linkage system. One or more air bellows springs or cushions 600 is mounted on the support structure 100 so as to be struck by some part of the frame of the rigid unit 300 before reaching the bottom point of travel. There is also one or more bellows air cushions 650 mounted on the support structure 100 so as to be struck by some portion of the unit 400 before it reaches its bottom point of travel. The air cushions not only can cushion the fall but the energy build up can be used to assist in the initial acceleration of the stair unit as it begins its travel upward and thus have a fly wheel effect on the masses reciprocating in an inclined plane.
A prototype built in accordance with the forgoing is extremely smooth and quiet in operation handling logs effortlessly. The rigidity and integrity of the stair units Il remains as such during operation without one engaging the other despite a close proximity of the two stair units.
The risers and treads on the respective units 300 and 400 are spaced apart to provide alternate steps in the inclined stairway. This is the referred to interleaving.
The stair riser of one unit overlaps the stair riser of the other unit as is apparent from the drawings and the forgoing description in reference to the same. The upper surface of each unit is effectively provided by a rigid plate like structure.

Claims (6)

1. A log conveyor comprising a first and a second pair of rigid stair flight units disposed in overlapping interleaved relation at an incline on a support structure, a plurality of rocker arms connecting the respective stair units to said support structure, each said stair flight unit comprising a plurality of risers and treads in series and wherein the risers and treads of one unit overlap and are interleaved with those of the other unit and drive means comprising a linkage system mounted on said support structure and connected to said respective stair units to oscillate the same in synchronized out of phase relation, said stair units moving in respective arcuate paths off-set a selected distance from one another.
2. A conveyor as defined in claim 1 wherein said rocker arms are pivotally connected to the support structure and the respective rigid stair units.
3. A conveyor as defined in claim 2 wherein all of the rocker arms are of the same length with respect to their pivotal connections whereby the paths of travel of the respective units have the same radius of curvature.
4. A conveyor as defined in claim 1 wherein said drive linkage comprises a power driven shaft having a crank arm attached thereto, a plate pivotally mounted on said support structure, a first link interconnecting said crank arm and said plate to oscillate the latter and a second and a third pair of links interconnecting said plate and said respective first and second rigid stair units.
5. A conveyor as defined in claim 4 wherein said second and third links are connected to said plate at respective positions on opposite sides of the plates pivotal connection to said support structure.
6. A conveyor as defined in claims 1,2,3,4 or 5 including air bellows bumpers mounted on said support structure and located at positions to be struck by the respective rigid stair unit associated therewith just prior to the stair unit reaching its lowest point during its reciprocal movement.
CA 2307401 2000-05-03 2000-05-03 Improved log elevating conveyor Abandoned CA2307401A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2307401 CA2307401A1 (en) 2000-05-03 2000-05-03 Improved log elevating conveyor

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA 2307401 CA2307401A1 (en) 2000-05-03 2000-05-03 Improved log elevating conveyor

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2307401A1 true CA2307401A1 (en) 2001-11-03

Family

ID=4166055

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA 2307401 Abandoned CA2307401A1 (en) 2000-05-03 2000-05-03 Improved log elevating conveyor

Country Status (1)

Country Link
CA (1) CA2307401A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1980506A3 (en) * 2007-04-12 2009-11-11 Holtec GmbH & Co.KG Log step feeder
CN110606361A (en) * 2019-08-15 2019-12-24 佛山勇一精锻有限公司 Automatic feeding machine

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1980506A3 (en) * 2007-04-12 2009-11-11 Holtec GmbH & Co.KG Log step feeder
CN110606361A (en) * 2019-08-15 2019-12-24 佛山勇一精锻有限公司 Automatic feeding machine

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
CN1054348C (en) Conveyor system for divergence and convergence
US8066114B2 (en) Differential impulse conveyor with improved drive
AU2014265701B2 (en) Linear motion conveyor
US20150336745A1 (en) Linear Motion Conveyor
CN1041543C (en) Conveying or excavating chain arrangement for track-laying machines
US5374157A (en) Apparatus for moving sawlogs or tree stems between stations
CA2307401A1 (en) Improved log elevating conveyor
EP0559303B1 (en) Conveyor
CN101472688B (en) Apparatus for use to check potatoes or similar items
CA2993932C (en) Improved linear motion conveyor
EP1007452B1 (en) Conveyor apparatus
US5190142A (en) Lift and carry accumulating conveyor
CA2481243C (en) Lumber unscrambler
CN110155665A (en) A kind of feeding device of thick bamboo tube processing equipment
CA2271931C (en) Conveyor apparatus
US20050263375A1 (en) Slip conveyor
JP4321221B2 (en) Branch / conveyor equipment
US20040251113A1 (en) Driving mechanism for shaking table
CA2432418C (en) Driving mechanism for shaking table
JP4464094B2 (en) Parts supply device
US1492927A (en) Car-loading apparatus
AU2011355805A1 (en) Drive assembly, carriage and conveyor and method
CN216376446U (en) Stepped bar feeding mechanism
SU1212887A1 (en) Oscillating conveyer
KR100569301B1 (en) a feeder for fruits

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
EEER Examination request
FZDE Dead