Stacking apparatus for wood veneer and other sheet material

Claim 2

A stacking apparatus for wood veneer sheets comprising: a receiving surface for receiving sheets of veneer, a barrier plate mounted above and adjacent to the receiving surface whereon sheets of veneer are to be stacked, the barrier plate forming an alignment surface for the leading edge of the veneer sheets delivered into a stacking position above the receiving surface, a reciprocating conveyor having moving endless belts for supporting and moving individual sheets of veneer along the top surface thereof, the conveyor reciprocating between a retracted position overlying the receiving surface, driving means operatively connected to the conveyor for rapidly shuttling the conveyor between the retracted and forward stacking positions, clamping fingers projecting through the barrier plate at spaced intervals, positioned so as to engage the leading edge of the veneer sheet delivered into forward stacking position, the clamping fingers (1) engaging and clamping the leading edge of individual sheets of veneer advanced into stacking position, (2) retracting to pull the leading edge of the veneer against the alignment surface formed by the barrier plate and (3) releasing the sheet of veneer while the reciprocating conveyor is in retracted position, and control means for coordinating action of the clamping fingers resulting in release of the veneer sheet with movement of the reciprocating conveyor to its retracted position, to allow the aligned sheets of veneer to fall by gravity to the receiving surface.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the driving means is capable of reciprocating the conveyor between the retracted and stacking positions within a time period of about one second.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 including means for delivering a sheet of veneer onto the surface of the reciprocating conveyor.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1 including means for lowering the receiving surface as each sheet of veneer is delivered thereon an amount substantially equal to the thickness of the veneer sheet.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the control means includes first sensing means disposed at a predetermined point between the retracted position and the stacking position of the reciprocating conveyor for sensing the leading edge of the reciprocating conveyor when advancing into stacking position, and signaling slowdown of the speed of the endless belts of the reciprocating conveyor, and second sensing means sensing when the leading edge of the veneer sheet delivered into stacking position by the reciprocating conveyor is in engagement with the clamping fingers and against the barrier plate, the second sensing means signaling retraction of the reciprocating conveyor, release of the leading edge of the sheet of veneer by the clamping fingers and speed up of the endless belts of the reciprocating conveyor.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 5 including cam means operatively connected to the clamping fingers programmed to move the clamping fingers engaging the leading edge of the veneer sheet downwardly a predetermined distance, retract them through the barrier plate to release the veneer sHeet and align the leading edge of the veneer sheet with the alignment surface of the barrier plate, and return them to their initial position on receipt of a signal from the second sensing means.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the clamping fingers comprise a plurality of spaced-apart, spring-biased opposed elements between which the leading edge of the veneer sheet is directed.

Claim 9

A stacking apparatus for wood veneer compising: a receiving surface for receiving sheets of veneer, a barrier plate mounted above and adjacent to the receiving surface whereon sheets of veneer are to be stacked, the barrier plate forming an alignment surface for the leading edge of the veneer sheets delivered into a stacking position above the receiving surface, a reciprocating conveyor having moving endless belts for supporting and moving individual sheets of veneer along the top surface thereof between a retracted position offset from the receiving surface and stacking position overlying the receiving surface, driving means operatively connected to the conveyor for shuttling the conveyor between the retracted and stacking positions, clamping fingers projecting through the barrier plate at spaced intervals positioned so as to engage the leading edge of the sheets of veneer delivered into stacking position, the clamping fingers (1) engaging and clamping the individual sheets of veneer advanced into stacking position by the reciprocating conveyor, and (2) retracting through the barrier plate to pull the leading edge of the veneer against the alignment surface of the barrier plate and thereby release the sheet of veneer while the reciprocating conveyor is in retracted position, allowing the aligned sheets of veneer to fall by gravity to the receiving surface, first sensing means disposed at a predetermined point between the retracted and the forward stacking positions of the reciprocating conveyor for sensing the leading edge of the conveyor when advancing to the stacking position and signaling slowdown of the speed of the endless belts thereof, and second sensing means sensing when the leading edge of the veneer sheet delivered into stacking position by the reciprocating conveyor is in engagement with the clamping fingers and against the barrier plate, the second sensing means signaling retraction of the reciprocating conveyor, release of the leading edge of the sheet of veneer by the clamping fingers and speed up of the endless belts of the reciprocating conveyor.

Claim 10

A stacking apparatus for wood veneer compising: a receiving surface for receiving sheets of veneer, a barrier plate mounted above and adjacent to the receiving surface whereon sheets of veneer are to be stacked, the barrier plate forming an alignment surface for the leading edge of the veneer sheets delivered into a stacking position above the receiving surface, a reciprocating conveyor having moving endless belts for supporting and moving individual sheets of veneer along the top surface thereof between a retracted position offset from the receiving surface and stacking position overlying the receiving surface, driving means operatively connected to the conveyor for shuttling the conveyor between the retracted and stacking positions, clamping fingers projecting through the barrier plate at spaced intervals positioned so as to engage the leading edge of the sheets of veneer delivered into stacking position, the clamping fingers (1) engaging and clamping the individual sheets of veneer advanced into stacking position by the reciprocating conveyor, and (2) retracting through the barrier plate to pull the leading edge of the veneer against the alignment surface of the barrier plate and thereby release the sheet of veneer while the reciprocating conveyor is in retracted position, allowing the aligned sheets of veneer to fall by gravity to the receiving surface, first sensing means disposed at a predetermined point between the retracted and the forward stacking positions of the reciprocating conveyor for sensing the leading edge of the conveyor when advancing to the stacking position and signaling slowdown of the speed of the endless belts thereof, and second sensing means sensing when the leading edge of the veneer sheet delivered into stacking position by the reciprocating conveyor is in engagement with the clamping fingers and against the barrier plate, the second sensing means signaling retraction of the reciprocating conveyor, release of the leading edge of the sheet of veneer by the clamping fingers and speed up of the endless belts of the reciprocating conveyor.