US769153A - Lumber-handling apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904.

G. E. DUPEE. LUMBER HANDLING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1903.

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v PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. G.E.DUPEE.

LUMBER HANDLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1903'.

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UNITED STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. DUPEE, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

LUMBER-HANDLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent N0. r'69,153, dated September 6, 1904. Application filed September 28, 1903 Serial No. 174,858. (Nd model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. Durnn, a citizen of the United States, residing-at Somer- Ville, in the county-of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Lumber-Handling Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like numerals on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a device for expeditiously handling lumber, and especially for taking lumber from a vessel or wharf or any other place and piling it.

The device in which my invention is embodied comprises a frame having a plurality of positively-driven feeding-rolls constructed to feed or carry the lumber longitudinally of the frame and a feeding-in device which can be placed at either side of the frame and which is constructed to take lumber from eitherside of said frame and carry it toward the frame and deposit it onto the feed-rolls, which in turn take it and feed it forward longitudinally of the frame. I

The device also comprises a piler consisting of an elevator constructed to take the lumber from the rolls and elevate it to the top of the pile where it is being stacked.

The particular features wherein the invention resides will be more fullyv hereinafter described and then pointed out in the claims.

- Figure 1 of the drawings is a plan View of a portion of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is an end view of Fig. 1.

- Fig. 4 is a plan view of the end of the frame to which the piler is attached. Fig. 5 is a side View of the piler. Fig. 6 is an end view thereof. Figs. 7 and 8 are details hereinafter resectional, the sections being detachably connected together, so that any number of sections may be employed, according to the distance which it is desired to transport the lumber. In Fig. 1 lhave shown one section, 4, and

Fig. 3 shows a modification.

- part of another section, 4:, of the frame, these two sections being detachably connected together in any. suitable way, as by the clovetailed joints 5. One end of each section will preferably have the dovetailed projections thereon, which fit corresponding grooves. in the adjacent end of the next section. Part or .all of the rolls 3 are positively driven, and

they are preferably driven from a single source of power, one roll being driven from another. In this embodiment of my invention one'of the sections of the frame carries power-shafts 6 and 28, having sprocket-wheels 7 thereon, either one of which may be connected to sprocket-wheels on one of the rolls 3, and thus used to drive said rolls. As illustrated, the sprocket-wheel 7 on the shaft 6 is connected to a sprocket 8 on one roll by a sprocket-chain 9.

Said roll has fast thereon one or. more other sprocket-wheels 10, which are connected by suitable sprocket-chains 11 with sprocketwheels 12 on they ends of other rolls. These other rolls have in turn still other sprocketwheels, which are connected by other sprocketchains with still other rolls,and so on throughout the series, one roll receiving its motion from a second roll and in turn acting as a driving means for a third roll. By thus independently connecting up one roll with its next adjacent roll by means of a separate side of the main frame 4: and which includes a plurality of conveyer-belts 16, having feeding-fingers 17 thereon, said belts extending at right angles to the mainframe A. Any suitable means may be provided for thus securing the supplemental frame to the main frame, and, as herein illustrated, the main frame is provided at each side with the lugs Too elevate it to the top of the pile.

18, to which the arms 19 of the supplemental frame may be detachably secured. The conveyer-belts 16 pass over driving-pulleys 21, fast upon the driving-shaft 20, and around direction- pulleys 22 and 23, the latter pulleys serving to maintain the upper runs of the belts in a horizontal position. The pulleys 23 are mounted on arms 24, carried by the shaft to swing thereabout, so that said arms may be swung toward either side of the frame 4, according to which side the feeding-in device is operating on. The shaft 20 may be driven directly by a belt or in any other suitable way. As herein illustrated, ithas a gearwheel 26 thereon, which meshes with a gearwheel 27 on the power-driven shaft 28 and also with a gear 29 on the power-shaft 6. The object in providing two power-shafts is to provide means for reversing the shaft 20 when the feeding-in device is changed from one side to the other. With the feeding-in device in the position shown in Fig. 1 the power will be applied to the shaft 28 and said shaft rotated in the direction of the arrow a, and the feeding-rolls will be driven from the shaft 6. When the feeding-in device is on the opposite side of the frame, however, the power will be applied to shaft 6 and the latter rotated in an opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 1. In this case the feeding-rolls will be driven from the shaft 28. This change reverses the shaft, as will be obvious.

160 designates guides on which the lumber rests as it is given its transverse movement by the feeding-fingers 17.

Situated at the opposite end of the frame from the feeding-in device is a piler adapted to take the lumber from the feeding-rolls and Such piler is herein illustrated as an endless-belt elevator 30, carried by a swinging ladder 31. Said ladder is pivotally mounted'upon a suitable support or stand 32, which can be placed at any desired position alongside of the main frame 4. This endless conv'eyer comprises two endless belts, each having a plurality of carryingfingers 34 depending therefrom which during their traveling movement pass between the rolls 3 and pick the lumber off from them and carry it on the under side of the ladder to the top of the pile, as will be presently described. The endless belts pass over pulleys 36 at the upper end of the ladder or frame and over pulleys 37 at the lower end thereof. The lower pulleys 37 are shown as carried by shafts 40, which are driven from a drivingshaft 42, supported by the frame 4 and extendinglongitudinally thereof, by any suitable means, such as belts 44. I prefer to drive the shaft 42 from one of the rolls 3, as this avoids the necessity of providing a separate driving mechanism for the piler. As herein illustrated, I have connected one of the rolls 3 with 'a shaft 46 by means of suitable sprocket-chain and gearing 47, and said latter shaft has a gear 48 thereon meshing with a gear 49, loosely mounted on said shaft 42, but adapted to be clutched to the said shaft by means of a suit able clutch 50. The clutch 50 is constructed to be operated either by the man on the pile of lumber or automatically by the lumber itself, and in the present embodiment it is so arranged that as any piece or pieces of lumber are fed forward by the feeding-roll they automatically throw the clutch 50 and start the elevator in operation when the lumber comes opposite the elevating-lingers 34, so that the lumber is automatically picked up from the rolls 3 and carried to the top of the pile. For this purpose 1 provide a pivoted bumper or stop 53, arranged to be engaged by the lumber 54 as it is fed forward, said stop being connected to the clutch-operating lever by a suitable connection 56, wherel y as the bumper is moved to the right, Fig. 5, by the movement of the lumber on the rolls the clutch is thrown into operation and the elevator started.

74 designates a pivoted catch mounted on the frame which is adapted to swing in behind the bumper when the latter is moved to the right, Fig. 5, and thus lock it in such position, which is the position occupied by the bumper when the clutch is engaged. Said catch will preferably be a spring-pressed or weighted catch, so that its action in locking the bumper will be automatic. The bumper is preferably provided with means, such as a weight 73, to automatically return it to its initial position when it is released, thereby disengaging the clutch. I. prefer to employ automatic means operated by the movement of the elevator to release the catch, and there by permit the bumper to return to its initial position and the clutch to be disengaged when the lumber has been elevated to the desired height. For this purpose 1 have herein shown a rod 81 extending along the side of the frame or ladder 31 and connected to an arm extending from acollar 82 loose on the shaft to, said collar having another arm, which is connected to the catch by a connection 84.

85 is a finger connected to the rod 81 and preferably pivoted to the frame 31 and extending into the path of the lumber on the fingers 34. \Vith such a construction the upward movement of the lumber brings it into engagement with the finger 85 and swings the latter upward, such movement through the. connections above described operating to swing the catch out of engagcn'ient with the bumper. The bumper is then returned toits initial position, the clutch disengaged, and the elevator stopped. To prevent the elevator from running backward when the clutch is out of operation, I may provideanysuitablebrake device, such as a stop-pawl 87.

The operation of the device is as follows: The supplemental frame 15 having been placed upon that side of the frame 4 from which it is desired to feed lumber to the frame, the

1 a stop 53.

takes it to the feed-rolls, and the latter in turn.

feed it forward longitudinally of the frame 4 until the piler is reached. At this point the lumber engages the stop 53 and swings the same to throw the clutchin operation, as above described. The elevator now operates,

to pick the lumber off from the rolls and elevates it until it strikes the finger 85, when the catch 74% is released andthe bumper returns to its initial position and the clutch is disengaged. The elevator is thus automatically brought to rest and will remain so until another lot of lumber comes into engagementwith the bumper and the'abovedescribed operations are repeated. The finger 85 will be so positioned that the elevator will be brought,

to rest with the lumber in the most convenient position for being handled by the attendant on the pile. I prefer to make said finger adjustable up and down on the rod 81 and also on the frame, so it can be placed in any position desired. t V

I desire toemphasize particularly the fact that the lumber is carried up on the under side of the ladder 31 instead of orrthe upper side, as is usually the case. This permits me to stop the elevator with the lumber carried in the suspended fingers 3 1 at the most convenient position for handling regardless of the height of the pile. If the lumber were carried up on the upper side of the ladder,

it would be thrown over the end of the ladder onto the pile, and thus make extra work for the attendant.

So far as I am aware it is new to construct a lumber-piler so that the lumber is elevated in suspended fingers on the under side of the ladder, and-I desire to claim this broadly.

I may, if desired, also provide a means whereby the clutch can be operated by hand by the attendant on the pile. For this purpose 1 have shown an operating-rod 91 ex tending longitudinally of the frame 31 and slidably mounted thereon, which rod is connected to an arm on a collar 92, loose on one of the shafts 40. This collar has another arm, which'is connected to a bell-crank 93, and the latter is in turn connected to the clutch-lever 55.

The device may also be used as a means to' sort lumber, for, if desired, two or more pilers can be employed at different places along the main frame and each one'being controlled by In this case the stops for the respective pilers will be placed in different positions transversely of the frame, so that one grade of lumber, which would be placed at one end of the rolls or at one side of the frame, would'operate the stop forone piler, while a second grade of lumber, which would be placed centrally of the rolls, would opertuted.

ate the stop for a second piler, and the third grade of lumber, placed in a different position on1 the rolls, would operate the stop for a third p1 er. i I may. position the finger 85 so thateach charge or lot of'lumber will be carried from the rolls 3 clear to the top of the lumber pile at one movement or operation of the elevator, or so that each lot will only be elevated out of the way of the next lot on the feeding-rolls. In the latter case therewonld be one lot of lumber in each of the fingers, as shown in Fig.6. I If desired, the automatic means for controlling the clutch 50 maybe dispensedwith and manual clutch-controlling means substi- The inclination of the ladder or frame 31 of the elevator may be controlled by any suit.- able means, such as an ordinary block and tackle 63.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a modification which is a different form of supplemental frame 15. for use in unloadingdirectly froma vessel. Thisframe comprises merelyarms 190, which are pivoted to the lugs 18 on the main frame f and which rest at their free ends upon the sides of the vessel, as shown. Inother respects the supplemental frame is similar to that shown in Fig. 2. I I

From the above it will be seen that l have provided a simple but extremely efficient machine .for handling lumber and one which will require but a minimum amount of atten-. tion from attendants. It is so constructed that it can be built of any length by merely varying the number of sections in the frame, 1 and lumber can be fed to it from either side and distributed to one or more piles, as desired.

While I have shown one form in which my invention may be embodied, I do not wish tov be limited to the precise construction shown,

as various changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

' Although my invention has been above de-v scribed as especially applicable for the han. dling of lumber, yet it will be understood that without any change in its construction it may. be used for handling other material, such as poles, rails, or other similar-shaped material. I wouldconsider, therefore, as coming within my invention an apparatus constructed asv setlforth in the claims regardless of the par-. ticular character of the material which was handled by it.

' While my invention is primarily designed for. taking lumber from its resting-place, con-. vey-ing it sidewise to the rollers, carrying it longitudinally, and then elevatingit to the top of the pile, yet it will be obvious that by merely reversing the direction of the driving mechanism the device can be used to take- &

pile, lower them onto the rollers, and feed them forward to their destination.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a lumber-handling apparatus, a frame having positively-driven feeding-rolls to feed lumber longitudinally thereof, and a feedingin device detachable from the frame and adapted to be placed either side thereof to feed lumber thereto.

2. In a lumber-handling apparatus, a frame having positively-driven feeding-rolls to feed lumber longitudinally thereof, and a feedingin device comprising endless conveyer-belts arranged at right angles to the frame, said feedingin device being constructed to be placed either side of said frame.

3. In a lumber-handling apparatus, a frame having positively-driven feeding-rolls to feed lumber longitudinally thereof, and a feedingin device to feed lumber to the frame from the side thereof and deliver it onto the rolls in the proper position for being fed forward, said frame having means to detachably secure the feeding-in device to either side thereof.

4. In a lumber-handling apparatus, a frame having positively-driven feeding-rolls to feed lumber longitudinally thereof, a driving-shaft extending longitudinally of the frame, a feed ing-in device adapted to be placed either side of said frame, and connections between said feeding-in device and shaft for operating the latter from the former, said connections being operative in either position of the feeding-in device.

5. In a device for handling lumber, a frame having positively-driven feeding-rolls to feed lumber longitudinally thereof, a feedin g-in device adapted to be placed either side of said frame, said feeding-in device comprising endless conveyer-belts arranged at right angles to the frame, a shaft extending longitudinally of the said frame and operating said belts, the connection between the shaft and belts being such that the latter may be operated from the shaft in either position of the feeding-in device.

6. In an apparatus for handling lumber, a main frame having positively-driven feedingrolls, combined with a feeding-in device comprising a supplemental frame detachably secured to the side of the main frame, and endless-belt conveyers carried by said supplemental frame and extending at right angles to the length of the main frame.

7 In an apparatus for handling lumber, a main frame having positively-driven feedingrolls, a feeding-in device comprising a supplemental frame, endless conveyer-belts carried by said supplemental frame and extending at right angles to the length of the main frame, means to detachably secure said supplemental frame to either side of the main frame, a shaft extending longitudinally of the main frame, and means to operate said belts from the shaft in either position of the feeding-in device.

8. In an apparatus for handling lumber, a sectional frame, the abutting ends of adjacent sections being detachably united by a dovetailed joint, a plurality of feeding-rolls carried by each section, and means to connect said rolls whereby one is operated from another.

9. In an apparatus for handling lumber, a sectional frame the sections of which are detachably connected together, feeding-rolls carried by each section, means to connect the successive rolls whereby one is driven from another, and a feeding-in device at one end of the frame constructed to be detachably secured to either side of the frame.

10. In a device for handling lumber, a sectional frame the sections of which are detachably connected together, feeding-rolls carried by each section, a driving-shaft supported by one section, means to drive one feeding-roll from said shaft, means to drive the other rolls from said first-named roll, and a detachable feeding-in device at one end of the frame constructed to be secured to either side of said frame.

11. In a device for handling lumber, a sectional frame the sections of which are detachably connected together, feeding-rolls carried by each section, a driving-shaft supported by one section, means to drive one feeding-roll from said shaft, and means to drive the other rolls from said first-named roll, a feeding-in device adapted to be secured to either side of the main frame, and means for, operating said feeding-in device from said driving-shaft.

12. In an apparatus for handling lumber, a frame having positively-driven feeding-rolls to feed the lumber longitudinally thereof, an elevator operated from the feeding-rolls to take lumber from the feeding-rolls and carry it to the top of the lumber pile, and a clutch device to start and stop the elevator.

13. In an apparatus for handling lumber, means to feed lumber forward, and an elevator to elevate said lumber from the lumberfeeding means, said elevator comprising endless belts standing at an inclination to a vertical line and each having means to support lumber on its under side.

14. In an apparatus for handling lumber, a lumber-feeding mechanism, and an elevator to take the lumber from said feeding mechanism and carry it to the top of the lumber pile, said elevator comprising two inclined endless belts having lumber-supporting lingers suspended therefrom whereby the lumber is carried up on the under side of the elevator.

15. In a lumber-piler, a frame having positively-driven feeding-rolls to feed lumber longitudinally thereof, an elevator to take lumber from the feeding-rolls and carry it to the top of the lumber pile, a clutch device to start and stop the elevator, and means controlled by IIO the lumber being fed forward to throw said clutch in operation.

16. In a lumber-handling apparatus, a frame having positively-driven feeding-rolls'to feed lumber longitudinally thereof, an elevator to deliver the lumber from the feeding-rolls, and means to drive the elevator from the feedingro s.

17. In an apparatus for handling lumber, a frame having feeding-rolls to feed lumber for- Ward, a feeding-in device, a main shaft extend ing longitudinally of the frame, connections between said main shaft and the feeding-in device and also between said shaft and the driving-rolls .whereby each are operated from said shaft, an elevator to take the lumber from the feeding-rolls, and driving means for the elevator operated from the feeding-rolls.

18. In an apparatus for handling lumber, means to feed lumber forward, and an inclined elevator to elevate the lumber to .the top of the lumber pile, said elevator including suspended fingers depending from its under side onwhioh the lumber is supported.

19. In an apparatus for handling lumber, a plurality of feeding-rolls to feed lumber forward, and an elevator to take the lumber from said rolls and elevate it to the top of the lumber pile, said elevator comprising endless belts having fingers suspended therefrom, whereby means to feed lumber forward, an elevator'to the lumber is carried up on the under side of said belts.

' 20. In an apparatus for handling lumber,

elevate the lumber to the top of the lumber pile, said elevator including suspended fingers on which the lumber is supported, and elevator-operating means controlled by the movement of the lumber. I

21. In an apparatus forhandling lumber, means to feed lumber forward, an elevator to elevate the lumber to the top of the lumber pile, said elevator including suspended fingers on which the lumber is supported, and means operated by the lumber being elevated to control the operation of elevator.

22. In an apparatus for handling lumber,-

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