US3638792A

US3638792A - Grinder-feeding system

Info

Publication number: US3638792A
Application number: US101365A
Authority: US
Inventors: Georges A Bilocq
Original assignee: Forano Ltd
Current assignee: Forano Ltd
Priority date: 1970-12-24
Filing date: 1970-12-24
Publication date: 1972-02-01
Anticipated expiration: 1989-02-01

Abstract

A grinder-feeding system including a log aligning device comprising a log-feeding box adapted to receive logs, and a conveyor including at least two power-driven upwardly sloping chains carrying a plurality of transverse cross pieces for receiving the logs from the feeding box and aligning such logs as they are moved up the slope by the chains. A butting wall is mounted parallel to the chains and on one side of the conveyor, and spiral rolls synchronized with the chains are mounted between each pair of chains for pushing the logs against the butting wall.

Description

[4 1 Feb. 1, 1972 United States Patent Bilocq ......143/49 R Bilocq......................................198/24 [54] GRINDER-FEEDING SYSTEM 3,040,861 6/l962 Bilocq. 3,279,582 l0/l966 [72] Inventor. giggle: A. Bllocq, Plessisville, Quebec, 3,310,080 3/1967 Delceuurm 3,417,854 l2/l968 [73] Assignee: Forano Limited,

Plessisville, Quebec,

Primary ExaminerRichard E. Aegerter Attorney-Raymond A. Robic Canada [22] Filed: Dec. 24, 1970 1 pp ABSTRACT A grinder-feeding system including a log aligning device comprising a log-feeding box adapted to receive logs, and a conveyor including at least two power-driven upwardly sloping chains carrying a plurality of transverse cross pieces for receiving the logs from the feeding box and aligning such logs as they are moved up the slope by the chains. A butting wall is mounted parallel to the chains and on one side of the conveyor, and spiral rolls synchronized with the chains are [56] Reerem cued mounted between each pair of chains for pushing the logs UNITED STATES PATENTS against the butting Wall- 2,608,288 8/1952 Talbot 13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED FEB 1 1972 SHEEY 2 0? 2 INVENTUR Georges A. BILOCQ GRIN DER-FEEDING SYSTEM This invention relates to a grinder-feeding system and more particularly to a device for aligning logs prior to their classification before feeding them to a grinder.

Various devices have been proposed in the prior art for aligning and classifying logs. Examples of such devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,279,582 issued Oct. 18, 1966 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,356 issued May 12, 1970, to the same applicant as the present application. However, the prior art devices require plural operations for performing classification of the logs and for feeding them to the grinders, and such operations call for a number of men.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a log aligning and classifying device permitting the use of only one man to take over all the operations and also permitting to centralize all the operations in a very small confined space.

The object of the invention is realized in providing a new log aligning device which comprises a log-feeding box adapted to receive logs and a conveyor including at least two powerdriven upwardly sloping chains carrying a plurality of transverse crosspieces for receiving the logs from the feeding box and aligning said logs while they are moved up the slope by the chains. A butting wall is mounted parallel to the chains and on one side of the conveyor, and a spiral roll synchronized with the chains and mounted between each pair of chains is provided for pushing the logs against the butting wall.

The above-mentioned cross pieces may be separate pieces attached to each chain or single crosspieces attached to each of the chains.

The slope of the chains and the height of the crosspieces are related to the height of the maximum diameter of the logs so as to prevent rolling back of the large diameter logs.

The spiral rolls may consist of a smooth roll which protrudes slightly above the chain level in order to take off the weight of the log from the chains so that the logs can be moved sideways against the butting wall through the revolving action of the spiral rolls. The smooth rolls have a spiral ridge welded thereon and the pitch of the spiral ridge is exactly the same as the distance between two adjacent crosspieces. In addition, the highest point of the spiral ridge at the top of the roll center is slightly in front of the crosspieces for catching protruding knots in the logs to easily move such logs against the butting wall.

The grinder-feeding system further comprises a log classifying device including a first log ejector located at the top of the chain conveyor on one side thereof, a conveyor chute located at the other side of the chain conveyor, and means for detecting any logs which are longer than the predetermined value and for actuating the ejector to direct the long logs to the conveyor chute.

The grinder-feeding system may further comprise a spiral roll aligning conveyor located at the output of the chain conveyor for receiving the logs which have gone passed the abovementioned ejector, an additional log ejector located on one side of the spiral roll aligning conveyor, an additional conveyor chute located at the other side of the aligning conveyor, and means for detecting any logs which are larger in diameter than a predetermined value and for actuating said additional ejector to direct the large diameter logs to the additional conveyor chute.

Finally, an additional conveyor may be located at the output of the above-mentioned chain conveyor or spiral roll aligning conveyor for carrying the logs to grinder magazines which may be located either underneath the conveyors or on one side thereof. in the latter case, ejectors are provided for directing the logs to the grinder magazines.

The invention will now be disclosed with reference to preferred embodiments thereof and to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a log-aligning device or ranged to feed logs shorter than a predetermined length to grinder magazines;

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the device of FlG. 1;

FlG. 3 illustrates in an enlarged view a portion of the conveyor part of the log aligning device;

FIG. 4 illustrates a plan view of a second embodiment of a log aligning and classifying device in accordance with the invention; and

H6. 5 illustrates a side view of the device illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring to H68. 1 and 2, there is shown diagrammatically a log-aligning device formed generally of a log-feeding box 10 and an upwardly sloped conveyor 11 forming a V capable of accumulating logs and hereinafter designated pocket." The conveyor 11 includes three chains 12 which are driven in the direction of arrow 13 by means of upper gears 14 mounted on a single shaft 15 driven by motor 16 through a speed reducer l7 and a sprocket chain 18. The shaft 14 is rotatable mounted on a supporting structure 20 which also supports motor 16 and speed reducer 17. The lower end of each chain is passed around a gear 22 which is rotatably mounted on a supporting structure 24.

Between each chain 12 is positioned a roll 26, each roll being rotatably mounted on supporting

structure

20 and 24 and being driven in synchronism with the gears through bevel gear 27 and

shafts

28 and 30 which are coupled by universal joint 32.

To each chain is secured a number of uniformly spaced crosspieces 34 arranged in such a way that the crosspieces of each chain are aligned so as to align the logs as they are moved up the slope by the chain conveyor. Of course, the crosspieces in each row could be formed of a single piece attached to all the chains. The crosspieces can be made of standard structural angle plates or of inverted V-shaped plates.

The height of the crosspieces is related to the height of the maximum diameter of the logs in order to prevent rolling back of the large diameter logs.

A butting wall 36 is provided on one side of the chain conveyor for stopping the logs which are moved sideways with respect to the chain conveyor under the revolving action of the rolls 26.

The rolls 26 are smooth rolls the surface of which protrudes slightly above the chain level (for example one quarter to three-eighths of an inch) in order to take off the weight of the logs from the chains so the logs can be moved sideways against the butting wall 36 through the revolving action of the rolls.

Each roll carries a spiral ridge 38 welded to the smooth surface thereof. The pitch of the spiral ridge is exactly the same as the distance between the crosspieces 34. The use of the spiral ridge is to take care of logs having protruding knots or loops which are caught by the spirals and moved easily against the butting wall 36. The spiral rolls 26 are synchronized with the chains 12, as mentioned previously, and the highest point of the spiral ridges 38 at the top of the roll center should have a slight advance (approximately half an inch) in front of the crosspieces as indicated more clearly in FIG. 3.

For feeding the logs to the chain-feeding box, there is provided a conventional conveyor including a number of spiked rolls 40 illustrated in dotted lines because this does not form part of the present invention. The logs fed to the spiked roll conveyor hit a bumper wall 42 supported by structure 24 and fall on a sloping platform 44 of the feeding box which directs the logs onto the chain conveyor.

The log aligning device so far described operates as follows:

The logs originating from the spiked roll conveyor fall into the feeding box and accumulate in the pocket formed by the lower portion of the chain conveyor and the bottom of the box. The logs are picked up by the crosspieces 34 of the chain conveyor and are moved up the slope. The inclination of the chain conveyor and the position of the crosspieces 34 force the logs to align themselves at with their travel motion.

While the logs are moving up the slope. the rotation of rolls 26 pushes them against butting well an. The logs having protruding knots or loops which render them more difficult to move sideways are caught by the spiral ridges passing underneath the logs resting on the crosspieces and are easily moved against the butting wall 36.

At the top of the chain conveyor, the logs which are too long cut a photocell beam 46 or operate a pressure-sensitive mushroom mechanical detector 47. For a foolproof operation, both types of detectors could be used. The logs which are too long are detected by the detector 46 or 47 (or both) and such detector will operate a log ejector 48 which is mounted on the supporting structure 20. The log ejector 48 will direct the long logs to a conveyor chute 50 thus preventing such logs from causing a jam in the grinder magazines. The log ejector could be similar to the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,040,861 issued June 26, 1962 to the same assignee as the present application. Such an ejector is air or hydraulically operated by a pressurized air or fluid stored in a reservoir 52 and fed to the ejector through

control valves

54 and 56.

The logs which are of normal size fall onto a belt conveyor 57. When they pass in front of ejector 58 mounted on a supporting structure 59, they are detected and pushed towards metering gates 60 which are placed right above the grinder magazines. Such metering gates and grinder magazines may be the ones disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,417,854 issued Dec. 24, 1969 to the same assignee as the present application. The ejector 58 is identical to ejector 48 and may be operated by control valves 64 and 66 from pressurized in reservoir 62.

Referring now to H68. 4 and 5, there is shown the same aligning device as the one illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and the elements of such aligning device are identified by the same reference numerals. In this second embodiment, the belt conveyor of FIGS. 1 and 2 is replaced by a spiral roll aligning conveyor such as the one disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3,279,5 82 issued Oct. l8, 1966, to the same assignee as the present application. The conveyor includes longitudinal rolls 70 carrying spiral ridges 72 simultaneously rotated by a motor 74 through a speed reducer and sprocket chains 78 passing around sprockets 80. The longitudinal rolls 70 are of course joumaled in suitable bearings (not shown) in the structure of the apparatus.

The rotation of rolls 70 moves the logs against a movable wall in the form of a belt 81 driven by motor 82 through speed reducer 84 and sprocket chain 86.

The spiral roll aligning conveyor carries the logs to an ejector 88 of the same type as the one described above and supported on a structure 90. The ejector 88 is a air or hydraulic device the air or fluid of which flows from reservoir 92 through control valves 94 and 96.

The grinder feeding system disclosed in FIGS. 4 and S operates as follows:

The logs originating from the feeding box (not shown) are moved up'by the chain conveyor in front of the first ejector 48. The ejector 48 is provided with the above-described

detectors

46 and 47 for detecting the logs which are too long. Such logs are pushed down the chute 50. The ejector 48 is also provided with a detector 98 for detecting the over diameter logs, and a control circuit of any conventional type is located in the energizing circuit of ejector 48 for preventing energization of the ejector when a long log is also too large in diameter.

The over diameter logs passing by the second ejector 88 are detected by a suitable detector 100. The ejector is then operated and the over diameter logs are ejected through chute 102 for splitting before going to chippers.

The logs which are not too long or too big are subsequently picked up by a feed conveyor 103 for feeding them to the grinders. Of course, any type of conveyors may be used but the one illustrated comprises two chains having angle attachments 104 secured thereto for moving the logs in parallel relationship over a plate 105 placed under the conveyor.

Grinder magazines, such as the one represented by reference numeral 106 are positioned underneath the feed conveyors. The opening of the grinder magazines is closed by a sliding door 108 which is opened when it is desired to drop logs in the magazine associated therewith. The entrance of such logs into the grinders is controlled by metering gates I 10. Such metering gates may be of the type disclosed in US. Pat. No. 3417,854 issued Dec. 24, 1968 to the same assignee as the present application. Of course, other types of feed conveyors could be used and the grinder magazines could be positioned on one side of the conveyor with a suitable ejector on the other side for pushing the logs into the desired magazines such as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

Although the invention has been disclosed with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that various modifications could be made to the above-disclosed systems without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A grinder-feeding system including an aligning device comprising:

a. a log-feeding box adapted to receive log;

b. a conveyor including at least two power-driven upwardly sloping chains carrying a plurality of transverse crosspieces for receiving the logs from the feeding box and aligning said logs while they are moved up the slope by the chains;

c. a butting wall mounted parallel to said chains and on one side of said conveyor; and

d. a spiral roll synchronized with said chains and mounted between each pair of chains for pushing said logs against said butting wall.

2. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 1, wherein said crosspieces are separate pieces attached to each chain.

3. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 1, wherein said crosspieces consist each of a single piece attached to each of the chains.

4. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim I, wherein the slope of the chains and the height of the crosspieces are related to the height of the maximum diameter of the logs in order to prevent rolling back of the large diameter logs.

5. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 1, wherein the crosspieces are made of structural angle plates.

6. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 1, wherein the crosspieces are made of inverted V-shaped formed plates.

7. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 1, wherein each spiral roll consists of a smooth roll protruding slightly above the chain level in order to take off the weight of the logs from the chains so that the logs can be moved sideways against the butting wall through the revolving action of the rolls, and a spiral ridge welded to each smooth roll.

8. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 7, wherein the pitch of the spiral ridge is exactly the same as the distance between two adjacent crosspieces, and wherein the highest point of the spiral at the top of the roll center is slightly in front of the crosspieces for catching protruding knots in the logs to easily move such logs.

9. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim I, further comprising a spiked roll conveyor for feeding the logs to said feeding box.

10. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a first log ejector located at the top of the chain conveyor on one side thereof, a first conveyor chute located on the other side of said chain conveyor, and means for detecting any logs which are longer than a predetermined value and for actuating said first ejector to direct the long logs to the first conveyor chute.

11. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 10, further comprising a belt conveyor located at the output of said chain conveyor, a second ejector located on one side of said belt conveyor, a grinder metering gate located on the other side of the belt conveyor, and means for energizing said second ejector to direct said logs toward said metering gates.

12. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 10, further comprising a spiral roll aligning conveyor located at the output of said chain conveyor for receiving the logs which have gone passed the first ejector, a second log ejector located on one side of said spiral roll aligning conveyor, a second conveyor chute located on the other side of said spiral roll aligning conveyor, and means for detecting any logs which are larger in diameter than a predetermined value and for actuating said second ejector to direct the large diameter logs to the second conveyor chute.

13. A grinderfeeding system as defined in claim 12, further comprising a feed conveyor located at the output of said spiral roll aligning conveyor, grinder magazines located underneath said feed conveyor, and means including metering gates for dropping logs in said grinder magazines. 5

Claims

1. A grinder-feeding system including an aligning device comprising: a. a log-feeding box adapted to receive log; b. a conveyor including at least two power-driven upwardly sloping chains carrying a plurality of transverse crosspieces for receiving the logs from the feeding box and aligning said logs while they are moved up the slope by the chains; c. a butting wall mounted parallel to said chains and on one side of said conveyor; and d. a spiral roll synchronized with said chains and mounted between each pair of chains for pushing said logs against said butting wall.

4. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 1, wherein the slope of the chains and the height of the crosspieces are related to the height of the maximum diameter of the logs in order to prevent rolling back of the large diameter logs.

9. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 1, further comprising a spiked roll conveyor for feeding the logs to said feeding box.

13. A grinder-feeding system as defined in claim 12, further comprising a feed conveyor located at the output of said spiral roll aligning conveyor, grinder magazines located underneath said feed conveyor, and means including metering gates for dropping logs in said grinder magazines.