US1753967A - Veneer trimmer - Google Patents

Description

April 8, 1930. T. ROBINSON 1,753.967

I VENEER TRIMMER Filed Nov. 24. 1925 4 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR homas Robinson ATTOR Y5 April 1930. T. ROBINSON 1,753,967

\ VENEER TRIMMER I Filed Nov. 24, 1925 4 5119615611881 2 lNVENTOR Thomas Robinson TTORNEYS T. ROBINSON April 8, 1930.

VENEER TRIMMER 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed Nov. 24, 1925 INVENTOR ATT RNEYS April 3 T. ROBINSON R 1,753,967

' VENEER TRIMMER Fi 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 4MP] v O8 Thomas Robinson atbouuur Patented Apr. 8, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TJHEOMAS ROBINSON, F EVERETT, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNOR TO THECOE MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF PAINESVILLE, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO VENEER TRIMMER Application filed November 24, 1925. Serial No. 71,092.

My invention relates to cutters or jointers adapted for the cutting of a web or sheet into shorter lengths and particularly when it may be desired to vary the length (or width) of the individual pieces in a flexible manner and order.

My invention has been designed more particularly for use in cutting up veneer sheets and webs, but is obviously well adapted for cutting up other analogous web or sheet-like products or materials.

One special quality had in view in designing my invention is the ability to control the width of cutting so as to quickly and efi'ectively vary the width of the sections successively out within the limitations of the machine, that is, wide and narrow sections may follow in any order desired or necessary to.

suit the widths desired, or those necessary in order to remove imperfections and utilize the product most advantageously.

Another object sought is a device operable with as little waste of time as possible, and one in which the forward feeding movement of the web being jointed is continuous.

Other objects may be discerned by a study of the following specification and claims.

What is believed to be new and novel in the device shown in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described, will be particularly pointed out in the claims terminating this specification.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated the principles of my invention in a construction which is now approved by me. It is, however, to be understood that my invention is not limited to the exact construction shown, and that equivalent forms of construction may be substituted in many places without departing from the true scope of myplane of the cutter and anvil'rolls, without however sectioning said rolls;

Figure 4 shows a side view of a section of the automatic tripping or controlling chain and the complemental tripping parts;

Figure 5 is a view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2 showing the setting mechanism in its relation to the controlling chain.

Figure 6 is a. wiring diagram employed in connection with said setting mechanism;

Figure 7 is a transverse section through the cutting and anvil rolls, taken on line 77 of Fig. 2 along the plane of one set of feed chains, showing said chains and their relation to said rolls;

Figure 8 is aysectional elevationof the adjustable member which carries the scale taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2;

Figure 9 is a transverse section of the ratchet mechanism employed in connection with the turning of the cutting roll taken on line 99 of Fig. 2.

The jointing members of my device consist of the rollers 1 and 2, mounted adjacent and superimposed to eachother on parallel axes, and between which the veneer web is passed, the web traveling horizontally in the machine as shown.

One of'these rollers, as 1, has a number of steel blades or cutter knives 10, extending lengthwise thereof, circumferentially and equally spaced thereon to conform to the width of the narrowest strip it may be desired to cut from the web. The spacing chosen in the machine illustrated is two inches. The widths of thesectionscut from a web or sheet are a function of the unit distance represented by the spacing of these It is evident that if the sheet to be cut is fed between the two rolls 1 and 2, and these rolls be brought together at intervals, the sheet will be cut into strips or sheets of a width corresponding with the intervals elapsing between the approach movements of the rolls.

Either or both rolls may be reciprocated,

ut I prefer to reciprocate the lower roll 2.

is movement 'is shown as secured for the roll 2 by the following mechanism: Upon each end of the shaft of roller.2 is loosely journaled a roller 31. Keyed or otherwise rigidly fixed to shaft are two lift blocks or cams 3. The upper surface of these blocks consists of two circular segmental faces 33, curved to conform with and fit the periphery of the rollers 31. This produces a peak or point 32 where the two curved surfaces join or meet.

It is evident that if any source of power is connected with the arm 34 so as to rock the shaft 30 alternately in opposite directions, the roller 2 will be lifted by the peak or point 32, soas to bring it into contact with the cutting blades carried by the roller 1, thereby cutting across any sheet which is between the rollers.

The mechanism by which this lifting of the roller 2 is secured may be widely varied, as well as the means for actuating such mechanism. It is desired to employ an electrically energized means to secure this movement.

The type of electricalmotor which it is believed will best fit the conditions, is the solenoid. I have therefore shown two solenoid coils 37 and 38, which have a common core 36, the core being connected by a bar or rod 35 with an arm 34 securely fixed upon the shaft 30. The coils 37 and 38 are separately and alternately energized to thereby secure the opposite alternating movement for the core. I have shown the solenoid coils as mounted upon a pivot axis 39 to compensate for the slight angular movement of the rod 35.

It is evident that other types of prime movers may be employed. One highly desirable feature is a direct connection and a mechanism which will act with promptness and accuracy of timing. One feature which it is desired to avoid is dependence upon any clutch, whether of positive or frictional character.

The rolls may be turned and the web feeding device operated from any suitable source of power. I have shown an electric motor 4 turning a friction disk 40, the latter cooperating with and turning a friction disk 41 slidably mounted upon a shaft 42. A collared or grooved hub 43 permits engagement with disk 41 to shift it along its shaft, thereby varying the rate of feed and operation of the device. This feature of variation of feeding rate may often be unnecessary, in which case it may be omitted.

The shaft 42, or an equivalent driving shaft, is suitably connected with the rolls to drive them and also with the web feeding means, of which the preferred arrangement is shown in Figures 2 and 7. Separate chains are preferably employed at opposite sides of the roll 2, and the roll 2 is provided with circumferential slots or grooves 20, which receive the guide pulleys 51 at one end of the conveyor chains 5. By using separate conveyor chains at opposite sides of the roll 2 and not carrying said chains over roll 2, the possibility of displacement of the chain so as to get it under the knives, is prevented.

In the construction illustrated, a chain 45 connects a sprocket 44 on the shaft 42 with a sprocket 57 on an idler shaft 52. Shaft 52 has a sprocket 56, over which passes a drive chain 55, which passes in succession over sprocket 54 on shaft 53, sprocket 11 on shaft 12 of the cutter roll, over sprocket 51 on shaft 50 and thence back to sprocket 56 on shaft 52.

The lower or anvil roll 2 is driven by a belt 27 passing over pulley 26. The driving ratio between the two rolls 1 and 2 is preferably such that the roll carrying the knives has a slightly greater circumferential speed than the other, while at the same time providing a yielding construction in the drive for the roll 2, which will secure a momentary uniformity of-movement at the time of cutting. This may be done by providing one of the pulleys, over which the belt 27 passes, with a ratchet or clutch drive. I have shown in Figure 9 such a device incorporated in the pulley 58. The rim 58 is loosely mounted on a center 58 secured upon the shaft. Recesses 58 having inclined or cam inner faces, contain rollers or balls 58, the whole forming a roller clutch of common construction. It is, therefore, possible for the roll 2 to be slightly accelerated at the time of cutting, this being communicated to it from the cutting or knife carrying roll 1.

The desirability for a circumferential speed in the knife carrying roller 1, greater than the rate of feed of the web being cut, arises from the fact that the cutting blades have a material thickness and are rather close together. Under conditions where two successive blades were cutting, if the two speeds were equal, the narrow strip cut off might stick between the knives and be carried around, which would interfere the next time either of the holding blades was used.

The jointing mechanism controlling or trip chain 6 is shown in top View in its relation to other parts of the machine in Figure 2, and in detail in Figures 4 and 5. The rate of movement of this chain conforms in a definite way with that of the feed chains 5. By this it is not meant that they have necessarily exactly the same rate of movement, but that any. variation existing preserves a constant ratio."

For cutting a product such as wood veneer, which will shrink on drying and which at the time of cutting contains such an amount of moisture that shrinkage will occur, either the rate of movement of the veneer feed chains should exceed that of the trip chain enough to compensate for such shrinkage, or the unit of measurement of the feed chain khould exceed that used in the timing or trip chain, in just the same way that the measurement unit in a shrink rule exceeds that of an ordinary rule.

The unit basis of length employed in the trip chain may be anything required in the service in which it is to be employed. For jointing veneer, a suitable unit of length for most work would be two inches. In the machine illustrated, I have employed this unit. This unit would usually be two inches plus a shrinkage allowance.

While the timing mechanism by which the trip action is controlled is a separate invention from the cutting or trimming mechanism herein claimed, there is such a relationship between them that an explanation thereof will facilitate a full understanding of the apparatus as a whole. Such timing mechanism is shown and claimed in an application for patent filed as a division from this case June 21, 1926, Serial No. 117,367.

The type of link illustrated for the trip chain has two laterally projecting pins 61, which may be extensions of the link pivots of the chain. On the unit basis 'of two inches, these would be spaced one inch apart. Upon one pin of each pair is pivotally mounted a trip or contactdog 7. This has a central body from which extend three arms or fingers 70, 71 and 72, the fingers 71 and 72 being positioned in planes separated lengthwise of the pivot axis. The other pin 61 of the pair serves as a limit stop, successively engaged by the fingers 70 and 71.

The upper run of the trip chain rests upon guide and positioning bars 62 and 63. The pins 61, upon which the trip dogs 7 are pivoted, also carry rollers 64 which engage'the guide bar 63. At a point where the chain first enters the upper run, any trip dogs which have their fingers 70 projecting, or as shown by one of these in Figure 4, engages a fixed member, not shown, so as to turn them 55 all into the position in which the others are shown in Figure 4, which position may be called the normal position, the position in which the single dog is shown being the trip position.

At a point along the path of the trip chain, preferably close to the jointer rolls, is an electrical contact or switch controlling a circuit which is employed as a relay operating circuit for the jointing mechanism. The power member of this device, as shown, is

the solenoid 37, 38. Figure 4 is a sideview of the closing devicefor this relay circuit,'and the chain elements by which it is controlled.

A lever 8, pivoted at 80, carries an insulating contact block 82 which is normally held down, or in position to hold separated the contact members 84 and 85, either by the 'weight of the parts or by the action of a spring, as 81, or by both. One contact meinber is preferably provided with a resilient left in Figure 4, as indicated by the arrow at the bottom, the arm 72 of any trip block which has previously been placed in tripping position, will engage the insulating block 82 to close the break in the circuit at the points 84, 85, thereby energizing those magnets 35 of the setting system, see Figures 5 and 6, which have been connected to this circuit by the depression of their keys 15. The setting mechanism or system, to which brief refer ence has just been made, will be more fully described hereinafter.

The contact making or circuit closing .device illustrated in Figures .4 and 6, or an equivalent mechanism, is duplicated as a means for. controlling the current to the cutter operating solenoid, 37, 38. In this case the block 82 which is engaged by the trip finger 72 of the trip chain, is "preferably placed as close as is feasible to the plane extending through the axes of rollers 1 and 2. Also it is desirable that the circuit directly controlled by such contacts, be that of a relay magnet by which is controlled the power circuit or whatever other source of power is used,'thereby moving the anvil roll 2 sharply upward into contact with the sheet V .to force it against one of the cutting knives 10 carried by the roll 1. These parts are so positioned and timed as to act only at the times when the knives 10 reach the cutting position.

To secure the automatic actuation of the cutting mechanism, it is only necessary to raisein advance that trip dog 72 which is spaced the desired distance following the last previously raised dog. It is possible to have a number of the trip dogs or fingers raised in advance, which will cause each in turn to actuate the cutting mechanism to cut strips corresponding in width with the spacing of the fingers which are raised.

The width of pieces cut from the veneer sheet are represented by the spacing of those trip dogs 7 which are turned into tripping position. To facilitate the tripping of the dogs needed to secure the desired width, I

mount a scale 100 alongside of the course of the trip chain. This is plainly marked in inches, or whatever unit is desired. It is secured at one end, to the same plate 87, or other part which carries the contact closing block 82. This plate 87 may be adjusted toward or from the cutting rolls as desired, and for making this adjustment I have shown plate 87 secured to bar 101, whichis mounted to slide upon two rods 102 and 103. Rod 103 has notches 106 spaced at unit distances apart, and bar 101 has a slot 104 permitting raising of the handle and 105 of the bar so that the bar may be lifted out of notch 106, and the whole device slid along to another notch 106. This adjustment may be omitted entirely, and if used it would be merely as an adjustment which would change the zero of the scale in its relation to the cutters.

It is, of course, possible to turn the trip dogs into tripping position by direct hand engagement therewith. It will, however, be desirable to be able to employ the setting mechanism, to which I have already referred, to do this by the use of a device which is analogous to a keyboard. Such a device is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5. A series of like devices, of which one is shown in side elevation in Figure 5, are spaced apart the chosen unit distance in a bank extending alongside of the scale and the controlling or timing chain 6. In Figure 2 three are shown in plan view. Enough should be employed to cover a material distance, say six feet or even more.

Each of these devices consists of the following parts. A lever 13 is pivoted at 14 and has one end 16 positioned adjacent to the fingers 71 of the trip dogs as they pass, and so that if this end be swung down upon its pivot, this end 16 will be brought into the path of travel of the finger 71 to rock the trip member or dog 7, so as to raise the finger 72 into position to later engage the block 82 and close the contact members 84 and 85. The other end of lever 13 may be provided with a finger plate or key 15.

Secured to lever 13 is a rod 17 which is secured to or forms a part of the core 36' of a solenoid coil 35'. An extension of the rod 17 has a cross pin or a lateral extension 18, or is otherwise constructed and positioned to engage with two toggle levers 9 and 90, pivoted respectively at 9 and 9, the latter pivot being common with that connecting two parts 91 and 92 of a compound arm, itself pivoted at 99. The upper end of this compound arm carries the movable contact member 94 of a switch device. Said contact member is shown as in the form of a conducting ring 94 mounted upon an insulating head 93.

When the toggle lever bars 9 and 90 are moved down by depressing key 15, the ring 94 will be caused to contact with each of a pair of arms 95 (see Fig. 6), so as to close the break normally existing at this point in their common circuit. The lower end of the solenoid core 36' contacts with an end of link 9 so that depression of lever 13 depresses links or levers 9 and 90. A spring 96 normally holds these parts in the non-working position shown in Figure 5. This spring connects with an extension of the part 91 of the compound arm which carries the contact member of the switch. A stop flange 98 limits their relative movement in one direction. The compound construction of the arm 91, 92 compensates for possible variations in proportions and position of the parts of the device.

Each bar of the pairs 95 is connected with its respective side of a circuit which includes the contact members 84 and 85, which are brought together by the action of the trip dog 72 of the timing chain 6. In the same, or in another circuit closed by the same movement of the points 84, 85, is the coil 105 of a relay magnet by which the power circuit 106' of the solenoid 37, 38 is energized to thereby operate the jointing mechanism.

When the second break in the circuit is closed by the movement of the bar 8, all the solenoids 35 connected with the keys which have been depressed, will be energized, thereby pulling up the cores 36, which depresses the ends 16 of their levers 13 to thereby engage the arms 71 of the trip dogs and turn up the trip arms 72, so that as they reach the member 82 the jointing solenoid will be energized and the roll 2 be raised. A spring or the excess weight of the key end of arm 13 returns it to the position shown in Figure 5, in which end 16 clears arm 71. As the core 36 is raised, the pin 18 breaks the toggle joint formed by the links 9 and 90 and throws the head 94 forward away from bars 95, thus breaking the local circuit at this point.

A number of the key levers 13 may be pressed down at once, but none should later be pressed down until all but one of the trip dogs previously set have been in act-ion. All levers which are down at one time are released together, thus simultaneously turning up a like number of trip dogs.

As the key or setting levers 13 are spaced unit distances apart, the operator may determine the width of the strip to be cut by the spacing of the levers depressed, or by the distance between the lever depressed and the tripping point represented by the block 82.

The operation of the device of my invention may be briefly summarized as follows: a web or sheet of veneer is fed between the rolls.1 and 2 to be cut into desired widths when these rolls are intermittently brought together. The widths to be cut from the sheet are determined by an'operator who presses certain of the keys 15, arranged opposite the graduations on the scale 100. The width which is cut corresponds with the distance between the levers depressed, or the distance between the lever depressed and the tripping point represented by the block 82. As one of the selected keys 15 is depressed the toggle links 9 and 90 for that particular key cause the member 94 to contact with arms 95 and electrically connect the solenoid 35, for that key, in series with the contact points 84 and 85. Any number of keys 15 may be depressed according to the various widths desired to be cut in succession, and as each key is depressed the solenoid35 for that key is electrically connected in series with the contact points 84 and 85. When the contact points 84 and 85 are closed the solenoids 35, of the keys which have been depressed, are energized, causing the ends 16 of their key levers 13, to be suddenly moved toward the trip chain 6 to engage the arms 71 of the trip dogs 7, and thereby trip the dogs so as to turn up the trip arms 72 which will engage the block 82 in succession as the dogs move along.

As each trip arm' 72 that has been turned up engages the block 82, the contact points 84 and 85 are closed to energize the solenoid 37, 38, which actuates the jointing mechanism, and also to energize the solenoids 35' of the keys which have been depressed. After the trip dogs have been turned up by the key levers these levers are returned to their normal position by the weight of the parts attached to the levers.

By the use of such a keyboard and its setting mechanisms, the device may be set in advance fora number of Widths. It is also possible to be more exact and certain about the setting of the trip devices. Should a wrong key be depressed, time is available for correction.

By the use of a continuous feed for the veneer web, a much greater rate of cutting is obtainable than is possible where the veneer feed must be stopped before cutting.

It is believed that the operation of the device will be clearly understood upon reading 7 the foregoing description.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a veneer j ointer, a continuously operating feed mechanism, an intermittently operable jointing mechanism, an electrically operated jointing mechanism control, and a timing mechanism operating in unison of rate with the feed mechanism .and having jointing mechanism control operating members optionally movable into working position and spaced at unit intervals.

2. In a veneer jointer, two rotating rolls between which the veneer is fed, the mounting of said rolls being adapted to permit relative lateral movement between them and one roll having a series of cutting blades spaced at intervals, actuating means associated with the mountingof one of said rolls for intermittently bringing said rolls to-- gether to cut the veneer, and means for seapart to permit passage of the veneer between them without cutting, means for bringing said rolls together to cut the veneer, and means for turning the cutting roll at a rate slightly greater than the rate of feed of the veneer.

4. In a veneer jointer, a cutting roll having a series of cutting blades spaced at unit intervals, an anvil roll cooperating with the cutting roll, said rolls being normally spaced apart to permit passage of the veneer between them without cutting, means for bringing said rolls together to cut the veneer, means for turning the cutting roll at a rate slightly greater than the rate of feed of the veneer, and means for turning the anvil roll containing a member yieldable to permit the roll to exceed its normal rate under outside infiuences.

5. In a veneer jointer, a sheet feeding means, jointing means operable intermittently and selectively, a trip chain having a series of trip members movable into and out of functioning position, means actuated by said trip members to electrically control the operation of said jointing means, a setting mechanism having a series of fingers selectively controlled to set the chosen trip members, and means for electrically actuating said setting fingers, said last mentioned means being controlled by the actuation of the control for said jointing means.

6. A jointer comprising sheet feeding means, a jointing cutter and an anvil'member cooperating therewith and relatively movable towards and from each other, a solenoid connected to operate the anvil, a switch controlling the application of current to the solenoid, a chain movable in unison with the sheet and a series of switch controlling members carried by said chain and movable selectively into and out of operatingposition.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a continuously operated sheet feed, a jointing mechanism, a separate source of power for intermittent operation of the j ointing mechanism, a selective control for the said jointer operatingmechanism comprising a fixed member and members movable in synchronism with the sheet feed, and means for selectively placing said last named members in operating position to engage said fixed member. I

8. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the web continuously, means for jointing the web, means for controlling the operation of the jointing means including a normally opened electrical switch, and means of adapted to close said switch whereby the web is jointed at any desired length.

9. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the web continuously, means for jointing the web, means for electrically c011- trolling the operation of the jointing means including a normally opened switch and selectively operated members moving in timed relation with said web adapted to cooperate therewith to close said switch whereby the web may be jointed into predetermined lengths corresponding to the distance between the selected operable members.

10. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the web continuously, means for jointing the web, means for electrically controlling the Operation of the jointing means including a normally opened switch, means traveling in unison with the web and adapted to cooperate with said switch to close the same, and means for selectively cooperating with said last mentioned means whereby said traveling means will cause said switch to be moved to closed position successively to joint the web at intervals dependent upon the actuation of said selective means.

11. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the web continuously, means for jointing the web, means for electrically controlling the operation of the jointing means comprising a normally opened switch, means traveling in unison with the web and having members traveling in the path of said switch, and means for selectively actuating said members to thereby cause engagement between the selected member and said switch to close the latter. t

12. In a veneer jointer and the like, means for feeding the web continuously, means for jointing the web, means for electrically controlling the operation of the jointing means comprising a normally opened switch, means traveling in unison with the web and having members traveling in'the path of said switch and adapted to be moved into engaging position or out of engaging position with said switch, and means for selectively moving said members into a position in which they will engage the switch and move the same to closed position whereby the web will be jointed in lengths substantially equivalent to the distance between the selected members.

13. In a veneer jointer, or the like, two rotating rolls between which the veneer is fed, one roll having a series of cutting blades, spaced at unit intervals and electrically controlled means operable at will to intermittently move one of said rolls bodily towards the other to cut the veneer.

14. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of means for feeding a sheet of material, means for continuously actuating said feeding means, a jointing mechanism, means for intermittently actuating said jointing mechanism, and selectively controlled means synchronized with said feeding means for movement in unison with said sheet and adapted to control the intermittent actuation of said jointing mechanism.

15. In a veneer jointer, a trip chain traveling with the veneer sheet and having a series of trip members movable selectively into functioning position, and a setting means extending alongside of the chain and having a series of setting mechanisms selectively 0 erable to set tr1p members carried by t e chain.

16. In a veneer j ointer, a trip chain traveling with the veneer sheet and having a series of trip members movable selectively into functioning position, a setting means extending alongside of 'the chain and having a series of setting mechanisms selectively operable to set trip members carried by the chain, and means for electrically operating said setting mechanisms, energized synchronously with the operation of the jointing mechanism.

17 In a jointer, a trip chain having trip members movable into and out of operating position, a series of trip setting devices comprising a setting finger, and an electric operating means therefor, means for manually setting said finger operating means, and means for energizing said finger operating means conjointly with the operation of the jointer.

18. A timing mechanism for jointers, comprising a chain having trip dogs pivoted thereon to be turned between operative and inoperative positions, and a switch having amember placed in the path of said trip dogs when said dogs are in operative position.

19. A timing mechanism for jointers comprising a chain movable in conformity with the material to be cut, a series of trip blocks pivoted upon said chain and each having a setting finger and a trip finger, a cutter controlling switch having a member in the path of the trip fingers when set, and a setting member adapted to be operated to selectively engage the setting fingers.

Signed at Everett, Snohomish County,

I/Vashington, this 17th day of November, 1

1925. THOS. ROBINSON.

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