Photoelectric classifier using moveable curtain of radiation

Claim 3

A method as set forth in claim 1, comprising causing the curtain of radiation to perform said parallel movement in a closed path within the boundaries of said region.

Claim 4

An apparatus for carrying out the method set forth in claim 1, comprising a source of radiation and a radiation receiver which are disposed on either side of a conveyor for elongated articles, such as timber to be sawn, for the conveyance of the articles in their longitudinal direction to a position for continuous automatic working thereof, and mounted in supporting devices, wherein the supporting device at least of the radiation receiver is connected to a drive and transmission assembly which is adapted to cause the supporting device and thereby the radiation receiver to perform a parallel movement, the path of which extends outside the article to be classified on two opposite sides thereof in planes at right angles to the longitudinal direction of the articles, and where the radiation source is in a path conforming to that of the radiation receiver.

Claim 5

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the supporting devices of the radiation receiver and the source of radiation are connected to the drive and transmission assembly.

Claim 6

An apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein each respective supporting device is movable along a guide and is hingedly connected by means of an arm hinged to the supporting device to an endless chain which is passed over sprocket wheels that are connected by gears to a drive shaft common to the two supporting devices and connected to an electric motor.

Claim 7

An apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein the gears, the chain transmissions and the gear transmissions are mounted in the uprights of a U-shaped stand, and the motor and the drive shaft are disposed in the member of the stand interconnecting the stand uprights, the conveyor extending within the uprights of the stand.

Claim 8

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the respective supporting device includes two arms of electrically conductive material which engage in a guide of electrically nonconductive material extending in parallel with the guide for the respective supporting device, and said guide of electrically nonconductive material being surrounded by coil springs disposed between the respective arm and the adjacent end of the guide of electrically nonconductive material in order to serve as conductors.

Claim 9

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the supporting device of the radiation receiver and as a consequence the radiation receiver proper is adapted to be rotated on a shaft coinciding with a rotating shaft for the supporting device of the source of radiation, and in a path corresponding to that of the last mentioned supporting device.

Claim 10

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the supporting device of the source of radiation and as a consequence the source of radiation proper is stationary and has a shape substantially conforming to the path described by the supporting device of the radiation receiver and thus by the radiation receiver proper.

Claim 11

An apparatus as set forth in claim 3 having two or more classifying stations spaced mutually apart along a straight section of the conveyor, each of said stations including on one hand two radiation receivers disposed on one side of the conveyor in opposite location and rotatable in a path on a shaft, and on the other hand sources of radiation disposed on the opposite side of the conveyor and conforming to the common path of the radiation receivers.

Claim 12

An apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein at least one station is turned through 90* in relation to the other stations, the radiation receivers and the source of radiation in said station being adapted to be placed in rotation in paths, the main planes of which extend in parallel with the main plane of said section of the conveyor but are angularly offset through 90* with respect to the paths of the radiation receivers and sources of radiation in the other stations.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12 further characterized by moving said radiation receiver in a closed path and moving a second radiation receiver in the same closed path simultaneously with said first radiation receiver.

Claim 16

Apparatus for continuous classification of elongated articles as to their dimensional differences and/or orientation of the articles comprising: conveying means to move the article along a longitudinal path in relation to the article; a source of radiation and a radiation receiver disposed on opposite sides of said conveying means and mounted on supporting means; and driving means connected to at least the portion of said supporting means supporting said radiation receiver to displace said radiation receiver in a reciprocating movement relative to the article from a position uninterrupted by the article in a path between said radiation source and said radiation receiver to a position interrupted by the article in a path between said radiation source and said radiation receiver and then to a position on the opposite side of the article uninterrupted by the article in a path between said radiation source and said radiation receiver.

Claim 17

Apparatus for continuous classification of elongated articles as to their dimensional differences and/or orientation of the articles comprising: conveying means to move the article along a longitudinal path in relation to the article; a source of radiation and a radiation receiver disposed on opposite sides of said conveying means and mounted on supporting means; and driving means connected to at least the portion of said supporting means supporting said radiation receiver to displace said radiation receiver in a reciprocating movement relative to the article from a position uninterrupted by the article in a path between said radiation source and said radiation receiver to a position interrupted by the article in a path between said radiation source and said radiation receiver and then to a position on the opposite side of the article uninterrupted by the article in a path between said radiation source and said radiation receiver.

Claim 18

The appaRatus of claim 14 wherein said driving means is also connected to said supporting means supporting said radiation source and drives both said radiation source and said radiation receiver in parallel paths.