US3092266A

US3092266A - Stacker apparatus

Info

Publication number: US3092266A
Application number: US43512A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin W Dekoning
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-07-18
Filing date: 1960-07-18
Publication date: 1963-06-04
Anticipated expiration: 1980-06-04

Description

June 4, 1963 E. w. DE KONING STACKER APPARATUS Filed July 18, 1960 Ed Win W DeKonI/y l l x I 1 x 1 x l n l l l x l l I 1 l l l u l ..1

INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,092,266 STACKER APPARATUS Edwin W. DeKoning, 8205 SW. Hunziker, Portland, Greg. Filed July 18, 196i), Ser. No. 43,512 3 Claims. (Cl. 2114-6) with the boards traveling sidewise on and with their ends on either side of the conveyer. Positioned above the conveyer is stack-supporting structure, operable to support a forming stack. Movable up and down and through the path of travel defined by the conveyer is hoist mechanism which may be actuated to elevate a series of edgebutted boards from the conveyer and to move such boards into the bottom of a forming stack. The stack-supporting structure is constructed to enable boards to be moved up through the bottom thereof, but prevents the return of boards when the -hoist mechanism is returned to a position below the conveyer. In this way, successive layers of boards are added to the stack from the bottom of the stack.

Thus, a general object of the invention is to provide an improved construction for a stacker, wherein boards are added to the stack `from the bottom, and the weight of the forming stack is employed to promote orderly positioning of boards in the stack as it forms.

When layers of boards are added successively to the bottom of a stack, a construction is possible wherein the place of addition to the stack automatically may be maintained at a constant height. This -is because it is only the top of the stack that rises as the stack grows. Thus, by this invention, it is possible to employ a ram or fluid motor for actuating the hoist mechanism having a fixed length of stroke. Whether the stack be high or low, the hoist mechanism moves the same distance during the addition of boards. struction of the stacker. A further feature and object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a stacker having a hoist mechanism with substantially a fixed length of stroke producing addition of boards to the stack.

ln an embodiment of the invention, plural lifters are', contemplated spaced to clear the upper runs of belts in the conveyer when they are raised to lift a series of boards. Such lifters have bounding edges or surfaces facing the feed side of the conveyer that define an upright plane extending transversely of the conveyer. When the lifters are in a raised position, these bounding edges function as a stop means preventing forward travel of boards on the conveyer beyond the feed side of the lifters. An object of the invention is to provide a construction wherein smooth-surfaced conveyer belts are used to transport. boards, and the hoist mechanism comprises lifters as described, whereby when the lifters are raised, further feed to the means stacking the board may be `automatically stopped, without actually stopping the conveyer. On lowering the litters below the conveyer belts, forward movement of boards is again permitted and any backlog which may have collected on the conveyer automatically then moves into a feed position on the lifters.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel stacking apparatus which includes novel elongated holders providing the bottom of a support structure for hold- Obviously this simplies the control and con- Patented June 4, 1963 Mice ing a forming stack, such holders being located on either side of the conveyer and being pivotable about axes paralleling the conveyer. These are pivotable between a lowered position, wherein the holders deiine a support plane for a stack, to a raisedV position, wherein they have swung upwardly and away from each other. The holders are swung to a raised position by pushing a layer of boards about to be added to the stack against'their under sides, and in their raised position, such a layer may be moved beyond the holders and take its place against the bottom of the stack.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a stacker mechanism which also includes means for removing a stack from the `stack-supporting structure after it is formed, so as to free the structure for the production of a subsequent stack.

Still another object is to provide a construction wherein the boards automatically tend to align themselves as they form a stack. The stack is shifted slightly up and down as boards are added thereto, and this movement is used to produce an aligning action in the stack.

Other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus constructed according to this invention, illustrating conveyer belts in the apparatus defining a path of travel for boards and a support plane for these boards, hoist mechanism for lifting boards from the support plane defined by the belts, and structure over the upper runs of the belts for supporting a forming stack;

FG. 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus illustrated in FIG. l with portions removed; and

FIG. 3 illustrates holders for a stack in the apparatus, showing them in one of the positions they occupy during the forming of a stack.

Referring now to the drawings, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, 10 indicates generally the frame of the apparatus, including verticals 12 and horizontal members 13 mounting hoist mechanism 14 provided for lifting boards into a forming stack, and stack-supporting structure indicated generally at 16 for supporting a forming stack. Also mounted on frame -10 is `an elongated belt conveyer means 18, for transporting boards into a position wherein they may be fed by the hoistmechanism 14 into stack-supporting structure 16.

Specifically, belt conveyer means 18 comprises plural, relatively smooth-surfaced and laterally spaced belts 20 substantially parallel to ione another and with horizontal upper runs 20a defining fa support plane 4for boards and a path of travel for boards with the boards traveling from left to right in FIG. 1. Boards, such as boards A21, travel isidewise on the conveyer and with their ends on opposite sides -of the conveyer. The feed ends of vthe belts 20 are trained over pulleys 22 isupported by a pulley shaft 23 on horizontals 24 of the frame, and .thebelts at the lofbearing end `of the conveyer meanstravel over pulleys 26 supported by a pulley shaft 27 and brackets 28 on verticals 12. Drive to the belts is by 'a motor 30 connected to shaft 27 mounting pulleys 28 by a chain 3.2. In a preferred embodiment, the belts normally are driven constantly, and hoist mechanism 14 is operated intermittently to raise a layer of -boards olf the support plane defined by the belts. During the time that. the hoist 4mechanism is operated, forward travel of. boards on the Neartheiofbearingend of the lconveyer is a stop or disposed adjacent the support plane delined by the upper belt Iruns. Stop means 40 functions to index the forward ..edge-.fofal-ayer lvof boards. A boardtraveling down the conveyer reachestheystop meansand is aligned by. this means: transversely. ofthe conveyer, and its forwardn travel issgtopped Succeeding.boardstraveling down .the conyveyerebacleup fromfthe tirstlboard. inthis aligned position. -Ultimatelyaseries of edge-buttedjboardslis vformed in .preparationforlplacing anewlayertof boar-ds in a Stack.

:Hoist mechanism 14 comprises plural lifters, .indicated .at 46,..joined byxa .common :base48. The lifters have .substantially vertical vedges .for snrfacesSG. facingthe feed end 'of the belts, and dat, elongated upper surfaces or edges.521.noniallybccupyingthe lowered position of *F.IGSaltand 2 Aandebelow thesupport .plane of the belts.

1 Theupperfedges of .the lifter-s define a common support Nplane for boards, which substantiallyparallels the support plane of the belts, when the liftersareLraised .to the AAraised Aposition indicated VbyA dashed lines in FIG. Zand .gabovelthe suppontplane of nbel-ts 20... Hoistmechanism also .comprises a ramon liuidrmot-or 54,-having a stroke of fixed length,j connected-to the-litters and operable when actuated to raiseandlower the.lifters.

lWithlreference .tothe support *structure` 16, 'this Vcornprises a-.pair l ofelongated holders 56, 57v paralleling the upper `runs of the Vconveyer and disposed one on one side Y andlone on the other -sideof the conveyer. These dene abottom-forthestructureand constitute avyieldable Y- holdingmeans.

Thus, the holders are mounted ifor .pivotal-movement-about longitudinally extendingaxes on `shafts 58. Such-shafts-accommodate movement of the holders from theglowered position illustrated tofthe raised position shown in dashed lines in FIG.l 2. In moving .between llowered-and raised positions-lips or `lumbersupporting portions-60,V4 61 pivot inl arcs upwardly` and Aofboardselevated 1by-the lifters can pass between and beyond the holders. Gravity acts toreturn the holders to `their-lowered position lafter boards-clear the same.

The loweredffposition isdetermined byl stops 62.

Alsopart--of the supportstructure -1-6-are walls-64, 66

extending--vertieallyupwardlyfrom the support plane of thel holders. V-Tlhese-oonine the endsf of boards forming the stacking-the apparatus. -As will be described, the

Smolders are constructed so that a tilt is imparted to a stacksnomentarily asboards-areradded to its bottom, andA thisrtilttendstolshift boards toward wall 66 whichfunctions as an end-aligning wall. y

For moving a completed -stackvfromsupport structure -16,- an -upn'ght .pusherv means -SD-eXtendingin `a vertical --plane -fupwardly-ffromfthe holders -and set. normally of 'I the holders isincluded. This is mounted adjacent .one

set of ends of the holders. Duringthe'forming of'a stack, pusher means '-80' may assistin guiding one set of edges -of boards-in the stack. After-a stack has beenY formed, pusher means I80'is shifted fromrightto left in FIG. 1, using ram orrnotor `86, which causes the stack to slide offA of'holders56, 57 (wi-th' lips 60,l 61 -funetioningras VAguides) onto mechanism such as a conveyer k84 which portions 60,`4 61. Furthermovement of -the lifters upwardly ycauses these ends to pivot the holderslwith the lip pontions 'ofy Athe holders swinging upwardly. rWith such swinging of thek holders any stack resting on top of the lip portions also is'shifted upwardly.' It will be .abutment means 40. .This is mounted on the frame `and Icontacting stop means 40'.

noted thatV one of the lip portions is somewhat wider than the other.` Thus, on vthe about-to-beY-added layer moving upwardly, the shorter lip moves completely to one side :of the ends of the boards in the layer being added to the stack before the longer lip does. This results in the stack above the lips being supported at one end only on one of the lips (the longer lip) and momentary tilting of the stack above the holders, as illustrated in FIG. 3. When the shorter lip moves free, the stack above the lips is supported'at one end by the layer of boards being added, and at its other end by the longer lip. The tilt is toward wall 66, and kthis tilt is relied upon to vpromote end aligning of boards.

Explaining the operation of the device, with motor `running, boards as they are deposited, on belts 20 travel from rightto left in FIG. l, with the lead board finally Succeeding boards pileup behind the leadjboard, on the upper runs of the belts.

When suicient boards ha've collected to completely cover upper surfaces 52, ram 54 is actuated to raise the litters.

r'When the 'lifter-s lare ,shifted .jupwardly, their bounding edges 50' extend vertically upwardly from the support ,plane of the belts, andV these .edges constitutey abutment means preventing forward travel of boards toward the Yoffbearing end of the eonveyer beyondthese edges.

The lifters :are shifted'upwardly until after the boards carried thereon haveY moved between and beyond the arcs of the holders, and thisY occursiat the end of the stroke .of ram 54. With the boards on the lifters above the .'holders, .the holders fall back to their lowered position.

Thelifter-s `are then to be returned to'their lowered position by contraction of ram 54. After their top surfaces move below runs 20a, boards building up as avb-acklog on the runs may move forwardly, and the cycle may then berepeated.

It will -be vnoted that each layer of boards added to .the stack .requires the same extension lof ram 54. The

vlocation where addition takes place is always atr constant elevation. i

It is elaimed'and desired to secure by Letters Paten-t: 1. VStacking mechanism'for lumber comprising, a frame,

- means on the frame dening a path for boards with such boards traveling sidewise over land with ends on opposite sides of said path, opposed `elongated holders mounted above. and substantially paralleling said path, one on one side. and one .on the other sideof said path,rpivot means pivotally mounting 4the holders for movement between lowered .and raised positions aboutv axes Substantially Y- paralleling said path, said holders having lumber-supporting portions that project .towards each other inv a lowered position for the holders and that support the ends Vof boards in this position, said lumber-'supporting portions swinging upwardly and away from each other in diverging Varos'on. pivotal movement of the holders from a lowered to amai-sed position, hoist means for lifting boards from said path yand moving -them between and then beyond said holders, said holders swinging from their lowered to their raised position to accommodate ,movement of boards therebetween and being constructed to'return to their lowered. position after boards move therebeyond, and end-aligning structure extending vertically upwardly from adjacent #oney ofsaid holders constructed to align the ends of boards supported on said holders when such ends engage `the structure, the lumber-supporting portions of said holder-s having -a construction causing boards resting on the holders,r to tiltrtoward said end-aligning structure during movement ofthe holders from their lowered to their rai-sed position.

2. -In mechanism for stacking lumber, a frame, means on the frame `defining a path of travel for lumber, elongated opposed holders substantially parallel to each other and disposed above said path of travel, said holders having lumber-supporting portions that normally occupy a lowered position and that in this lowered position extend towards each other and denne la support plane for stacked lumber, pivot means mounting said holders for pivotal movement yabout longitudinally extending axes and accommodating movement of said lumber-supporting portions lupwardly and away from each other :to a raised position, hoist means -for lifting lumber from said path of travel tand moving such lumber between `and then beyond said holders, aligning structure extending upwardly from adjacent one of said holders, said holders having a vconstruction producing `shifting of lumber there- `on toward said aligning structure when they are raised lfrom their lowered position, and means for removing lumber from said holders comprising ejector mechanism disposed above said holders and mounted for movement in a direction extending longitudinally of said holders.

3. In mechanism `for stacking boards, elongated opposed holders substantially parallel to each other for holding the ends :of -a layer of boards, means mounting said holders enabling inner portions of the holders to swing up and away from each other, means for shifting a layer of rboards upwardly from below said holders to Kabove said holders, aligning structure extending upwardly from adjacent `one of said holders, said holders having a construction producing shifting of boards toward said aligning structure when they are raised from their lowered position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,904,941 Midnight Sept. 22, 1959 2,924,051 More Feb. 9, 1960 2,933,207 Edmonds Apr. 19, 1960 2,970,708 Watanabe Feb. 7, 1961 3,013,369 Wilson Dec. 19, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 22,677 Norway Oct. 14, 1912

Claims

1. STACKING MECHANISM FOR LUMBER COMPRISING, A FRAME, MEANS ON THE FRAME DEFINING A PATH FOR BOARDS WITH SUCH BOARDS TRAVELLING SIDEWISE OVER AND WITH ENDS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID PATH, OPPOSED ELONGATED HOLDERS MOUNTED ABOVE AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELING SAID PATH, ONE ON ONE SIDE AND ONE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF SAID PATH, PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE HOLDERS FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN LOWERED AND RAISED POSITIONS ABOUT AXES SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELING SAID PATH, SAID HOLDERS HAVING LUMBER-SUPPORTING PORTIONS THAT PROJECT TOWARDS EACH OTHER IN A LOWERED POSITION FOR THE HOLDERS AND THAT SUPPORT THE ENDS OF BOARDS IN THIS POSITION, SAID LUMBER-SUPPORTING PORTIONS SWINGING UPWARDLY AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER IN DIVERGING ACRS ON PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE HOLDERS FROM A LOWERED TO A RAISED POSITION, HOIST MEANS FOR LIFTING BOARDS FROM SAID PATH AND MOVING THEM BETWEEN AND THEN BEYOND SAID HOLDERS, SAID HOLDERS SWINGING FROM THEIR LOWERED TO THEIR RAISED POSITION TO ACCOMMODATE MOVEMENT OF BOARDS THEREBETWEEN AND BEING CONSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THEIR LOWERED POSITION AFTER BOARDS MOVE THEREBEYOND, AND END-ALINGING STRUCTURE EXTENDING VERTICALLY UPWARDLY FROM ADJACENT ONE OF SAID HOLDERS CONSTRUCTED TO ALIGN THE ENDS OF BOARDS SUPPORTED ON SAID HOLDERS WHEN SUCH ENDS ENGAGE THE STRUCTURE, THE LUMBER-SUPPORTING PORTIONS OF SAID HOLDERS HAVING A CONSTRUCTION CAUSING BOARDS RESTING ON THE HOLDERS TO TILT TOWARD SAID END-ALIGNING STRUCTURE DURING MOVEMENT OF THE HOLDERS FROM THEIR LOWERED TO THEIR RAISED POSITION.