EP0929484B1 - A set-up for feeding timber to a single-log feeder - Google Patents
A set-up for feeding timber to a single-log feeder Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0929484B1 EP0929484B1 EP97919812A EP97919812A EP0929484B1 EP 0929484 B1 EP0929484 B1 EP 0929484B1 EP 97919812 A EP97919812 A EP 97919812A EP 97919812 A EP97919812 A EP 97919812A EP 0929484 B1 EP0929484 B1 EP 0929484B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- boards
- conveyor
- board
- feeder
- speed
- 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 - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B27—WORKING OR PRESERVING WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES IN GENERAL
- B27B—SAWS FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; COMPONENTS OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- B27B31/00—Arrangements for conveying, loading, turning, adjusting, or discharging the log or timber, specially designed for saw mills or sawing machines
- B27B31/006—Arrangements for conveying, loading, turning, adjusting, or discharging the log or timber, specially designed for saw mills or sawing machines with chains or belts
Definitions
- the present invention relates to plant for feeding timber boards to and through a single-board feeder in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1.
- the invention relates in particular to high-speed production plants, i.e. plants in which the boards are fed to different stations at high speeds.
- the timber boards are normally transported in sawmills with their longitudinal axes transversal to the direction of conveyor belt movement.
- the boards are not distributed uniformly on the belts and the spacings between the boards can vary widely.
- the boards are advanced with the aid of so-called single-board feeders which grip boards stored temporarily in a buffer region and advance the boards one by one for further handling.
- the general aim is to increase the rate of production and therewith the speed at which boards are transported through the plant, it is endeavoured to keep the buffer region upstream of the individual board feeder under control, so that the buffer region will neither be too large nor too small.
- An excessively large buffer region will result in various kinds of disturbances in operation. For instance, the boards will not remain in contact with the conveyor, but will be pressed up and lifted in the buffer region. If the buffer region is too small or when no boards are present in said region, the feeder will stop. Both instances will immediately result in an interruption in production. Because a high production rate is contingent on the continuous outfeed of boards downstream of the board feeder, the buffer region must be kept constantly full of boards above a given lowest level, wherein the feeder output rate V ut , i.e.
- the buffer region upstream of the board feeder can be said to form a magazine or storage facility and is thus necessary for single-board feeding.
- the conveyor belt of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 has the form of a belt conveyor 1 whose board-feeding rate is referenced V in .
- the reference numeral 2 identifies a single-board feeder whose board-feeding rate is referenced V ut .
- the conveyor 1 moves the boards 4 at the speed V in , said boards lying cross-wise to the conveying direction.
- the boards 4 will not normally be distributed regularly on the conveyor 1, but may be spaced unevenly therealong. This is indicated on the left of the Figure.
- the single-board feeder 2 is intended to feed the boards one by one on a forwarding conveyor provided with dogging means, as indicated on the right of the Figure, it is necessary to obtain a given temporary storage or buffer 3 upstream of the single-board feeder. This buffer is obtained by ensuring that V in is greater than V ut , as earlier indicated.
- the aforedescribed forms part of the known technology and a more detailed description is thereof unnecessary.
- the invention enables the buffer region 3 upstream of the single-board feeder 2 to be maintained within a controlled size.
- a regulator which includes endless belts 5 disposed across the width of the conveyor 1, each of said belts being guided over respective guide wheels or rollers 6, of which one is driven.
- the upper run of the endless belt 5 is located above the upper transporting plane of the conveyor 1 and will thus engage the timber boards 4.
- the upper run of the belt 5 shall move in the transporting direction of the conveyor 1.
- the speed of the belt 5 is V reg , which is lower than the speed V in of the conveyor 1.
- the unevenly distributed boards 4 transported on the conveyor 1 will either be gripped or retarded by the belt 5 as a result of the difference between the speeds V in and V reg .
- a pre-buffer 3' will be built-up with boards on the upper run of the belt 5 at the same time as the regulator device will deliver the boards that collect thereon in a delayed rate to the conveyor 1 upstream of the single-board feeder 2 when so required by the feeder buffer 3.
- the pre-buffer 3' can be allowed to grow or expand to a given extent upstream of the regulator.
- the regulator can be constructed to adapt to different speeds of the conveyor 1, and also to different board dimensions and feeder capacities.
- the regulator speed V reg will normally lie between V in and V ut .
- the invention thus provides a highly flexible arrangement which can be installed in existing plants to solve an existing serious problem, particularly in the case of high-production plants.
- the conveyor belts may be of any appropriate kind and made from any suitable material, including high friction chains, provided that they will lower the rate of feed of the boards the speed V reg .
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Forests & Forestry (AREA)
- Attitude Control For Articles On Conveyors (AREA)
- Feeding Of Articles To Conveyors (AREA)
- Paper (AREA)
- Interface Circuits In Exchanges (AREA)
Abstract
Plant for feeding timber boards to and through a single-board feeder (2) for elongated timber boards (4). The timber boards are conveyed in mutually sequential relationship while lying on a conveyor (1) transversely to the conveying direction. The conveyor (1) advances the boards to the single-board feeder (2) at a speed of Vin and the feeder operates at a feeding speed Vut which is slower than Vin. Arranged upstream of the single-board feeder (2) and the buffer region (3) adjacent thereto as seen in the conveying direction is a regulator means (5, 6) which retards the boards (4) advanced on the conveyor (1) to a speed Vreg which is slower than Vin, prior to passing boards (4) further to the single-board feeder (2) on the conveyor (1).
Description
The present invention relates to plant for feeding timber boards to and through a
single-board feeder in accordance with the preamble of Claim 1. The invention relates in particular
to high-speed production plants, i.e. plants in which the boards are fed to different stations
at high speeds.
The timber boards are normally transported in sawmills with their longitudinal axes
transversal to the direction of conveyor belt movement. The boards are not distributed uniformly
on the belts and the spacings between the boards can vary widely. However, it is desirable
to be able to convey the boards in a uniform and regular array, for instance in conjunction
with sorting and cross-laying the boards. The boards are advanced with the aid of so-called
single-board feeders which grip boards stored temporarily in a buffer region and advance
the boards one by one for further handling.
Because the general aim is to increase the rate of production and therewith the speed
at which boards are transported through the plant, it is endeavoured to keep the buffer region
upstream of the individual board feeder under control, so that the buffer region will neither be
too large nor too small. An excessively large buffer region will result in various kinds of
disturbances in operation. For instance, the boards will not remain in contact with the conveyor,
but will be pressed up and lifted in the buffer region. If the buffer region is too small or
when no boards are present in said region, the feeder will stop. Both instances will immediately
result in an interruption in production. Because a high production rate is contingent on the
continuous outfeed of boards downstream of the board feeder, the buffer region must be kept
constantly full of boards above a given lowest level, wherein the feeder output rate Vut, i.e.
the number of boards that are fed out per unit of time multiplied by the width of the board,
must be lower than the board feeding speed Vin upstream of the individual board feeder. The
buffer region upstream of the board feeder can be said to form a magazine or storage facility
and is thus necessary for single-board feeding.
By utilizing the irregular advancement pattern of the boards on the conveyor to the
single-board feeder, with which single-board dispensing of up to three boards per second is
possible in single-board feeding operations, the problem presented by the buffer region at
high production rates has been solved by the invention, which prevents the buffer region
from expanding or decreasing to a lowest level in an uncontrolled manner. This is achieved
by virtue of the invention having the characteristic features set forth in the following
Claims.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to exemplifying
embodiments thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the
Figure is a schematic side view of a conveyor path on which timber boards are placed cross-wise
in the vicinity of a single-board feeder.
The conveyor belt of the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1 has the form of a belt
conveyor 1 whose board-feeding rate is referenced Vin. The reference numeral 2 identifies a
single-board feeder whose board-feeding rate is referenced Vut.
Thus, the conveyor 1 moves the
boards 4 at the speed Vin, said boards lying cross-wise to the conveying direction. The
boards 4 will not normally be distributed regularly on the conveyor 1, but may be spaced
unevenly therealong. This is indicated on the left of the Figure. Since the single-board feeder
2 is intended to feed the boards one by one on a forwarding conveyor provided with
dogging means, as indicated on the right of the Figure, it is necessary to obtain a given
temporary storage or buffer 3 upstream of the single-board feeder. This buffer is obtained
by ensuring that Vin is greater than Vut, as earlier indicated. The aforedescribed forms part
of the known technology and a more detailed description is thereof unnecessary.
The invention enables the buffer region 3 upstream of the single-board feeder 2 to
be maintained within a controlled size. There is provided upstream of the single-board feeder
2 a regulator which includes endless belts 5 disposed across the width of the conveyor
1, each of said belts being guided over respective guide wheels or rollers 6, of which one is
driven. The upper run of the endless belt 5 is located above the upper transporting plane of
the conveyor 1 and will thus engage the timber boards 4. As indicated in the drawings, the
upper run of the belt 5 shall move in the transporting direction of the conveyor 1. The speed
of the belt 5 is Vreg, which is lower than the speed Vin of the conveyor 1. The unevenly distributed
boards 4 transported on the conveyor 1 will either be gripped or retarded by the belt
5 as a result of the difference between the speeds Vin and Vreg. Thus, a pre-buffer 3' will be
built-up with boards on the upper run of the belt 5 at the same time as the regulator device
will deliver the boards that collect thereon in a delayed rate to the conveyor 1 upstream of
the single-board feeder 2 when so required by the feeder buffer 3. The pre-buffer 3' can be
allowed to grow or expand to a given extent upstream of the regulator. Thus, despite the
boards being forwarded to the single-board feeder 2 on the conveyor 1 at the speed Vin, enlargement
of the buffer region 3 upstream of the single-board feeder 2 will be equalized in
accordance with the timing of the conveyor 1, i.e. an enlargement which keeps within largets
and smallest permitted limits. Retardation of the boards and feeding of the boards to the
single-board feeder 2 is made possible by utilizing the gaps between the boards on the conveyor
1 upstream of the regulator device. The invention thus enables building-up of the pre-buffer
3' and of the buffer 3 upstream of the single-board feeder 2 to be continued for given
shorter periods, even if the feeder 2 is stopped due to a halt in production of the feeder, for
instance. The regulator can be constructed to adapt to different speeds of the conveyor 1,
and also to different board dimensions and feeder capacities. The regulator speed Vreg will
normally lie between Vin and Vut. The invention thus provides a highly flexible arrangement
which can be installed in existing plants to solve an existing serious problem, particularly in
the case of high-production plants. In principle, the conveyor belts may be of any appropriate
kind and made from any suitable material, including high friction chains, provided that
they will lower the rate of feed of the boards the speed Vreg.
Claims (4)
- Plant for feeding boards of timber (4) to and through a single-board feeder (2) for elongated boards of timber (4) which lie sequentially on a conveyor (1) transversely to the longitudinal axis of said conveyor, wherein the conveyor advances the boards to the single-board feeder (2) at a speed Vin, said feeder (2) operating at a board-feeding speed Vut that is lower than Vin, characterized by a regulator means (5, 6) mounted upstream of the board feeder (2) and the buffer region (3) in the proximity thereof as seen in the conveying direction, wherein said regulator means retards the boards (4) advanced on the conveyor (1) to a speed Vreg which is slower than Vin prior to the boards (4) being conveyed further to the board feeder (2) on the conveyor (1).
- Plant according to Claim 1, characterized in that the regulator means comprises high friction endless belts (5) or chains disposed across the width of the conveyor (1) and each passing over at least two guide wheels (6), wherein the upper runs of the belts in the regulator means are located above the conveying plane of the conveyor (1) and move at a speed Vreg which is slower than Vin.
- Plant according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the speed Vreg of the regulator means is greater than the speed Vut of the single-board feeder (2) but slower than the feeding speed Vin of the conveyor.
- A method of controlling the feed of timber boards to and through a single-board feeder (2), wherein the boards are transported to said the single-board feeder (2) in mutually sequential relationship transversely to the feed direction on a conveyor (1) having a board-feeding speed Vin, wherein the feeder (2) operates at a board-feeding speed Vut that is slower than Vin, characterized by causing the boards (4) upstream of the single-board feeder (2) and the buffer region (3) adjacent thereto, as seen in the conveying direction, to move at a speed Vreg which is slower than the speed Vin, prior to forwarding the boards to the single-board feeder (2) on the conveyor (1).
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE9601389 | 1996-04-12 | ||
| SE9601389A SE510399C2 (en) | 1996-04-12 | 1996-04-12 | Set-up for feeding timber to single log feeder |
| SE9602914A SE507265C2 (en) | 1996-08-02 | 1996-08-02 | Set-up for feeding timber to single log feeder |
| SE9602914 | 1996-08-02 | ||
| PCT/SE1997/000514 WO1997038929A1 (en) | 1996-04-12 | 1997-03-25 | A set-up for feeding timber to a single-log feeder |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| EP0929484A1 EP0929484A1 (en) | 1999-07-21 |
| EP0929484B1 true EP0929484B1 (en) | 2004-03-03 |
Family
ID=26662581
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP97919812A Expired - Lifetime EP0929484B1 (en) | 1996-04-12 | 1997-03-25 | A set-up for feeding timber to a single-log feeder |
Country Status (5)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP0929484B1 (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE260846T1 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU2416097A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE69727950T2 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1997038929A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE509744C2 (en) * | 1998-03-10 | 1999-03-01 | Renholmens Mek Verkstad Ab | Lathes for sawmill |
| SE519998C2 (en) * | 2001-09-03 | 2003-05-06 | Renholmens Mek Verkst Ab | Apparatus for instantaneous separation of layered wood pieces |
| CA2469544C (en) | 2003-05-30 | 2009-03-24 | Darryl Irwin Kujat | Elevated grade station drive system |
| GB2421676B (en) * | 2004-12-30 | 2010-03-24 | Fmc Technologies | Portioning apparatus and method |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2128182B1 (en) * | 1971-03-10 | 1975-06-06 | Guilliet Ets | |
| DE3316284A1 (en) * | 1983-05-04 | 1984-11-08 | Maschinenfabrik Esterer AG, 8262 Altötting | Device for maintaining a specific position of a flattened piece of wood during transport between work stations |
| IT1266179B1 (it) * | 1994-07-20 | 1996-12-23 | Cavanna Spa | Dispositivo e procedimento per regolare l'avanzamento di articoli, ad esempio in impianti per il confezionamento automatico di prodotti |
-
1997
- 1997-03-25 WO PCT/SE1997/000514 patent/WO1997038929A1/en not_active Ceased
- 1997-03-25 AU AU24160/97A patent/AU2416097A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1997-03-25 AT AT97919812T patent/ATE260846T1/en active
- 1997-03-25 EP EP97919812A patent/EP0929484B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1997-03-25 DE DE69727950T patent/DE69727950T2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE69727950D1 (en) | 2004-04-08 |
| WO1997038929A1 (en) | 1997-10-23 |
| AU2416097A (en) | 1997-11-07 |
| ATE260846T1 (en) | 2004-03-15 |
| EP0929484A1 (en) | 1999-07-21 |
| DE69727950T2 (en) | 2005-03-10 |
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