Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
An infeed conveyor for feeding logs or blocks having first and second ends into a machine for subsequent processing, said infeed conveyor comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of endless conveyor means disposed in parallel; b. carriage means secured to each of said conveyor means and guided thereby in an endless path, said carriage means being adapted to carry a first end of a log or block and convey the same in the longitudinal direction into the processing machine; c. guide means, arranged under the path of movement of said carriage means, for longitudinally movable guidance of the second end of the log or block in a centered position relative to a central, vertical, longitudinal plane through the infeed conveyor; d. centering means, arranged on each of said carriage means, for centering and holding said first end of the log or block in said central plane as said first end is carried and conveyed; e. drive means, associated with said endless conveyor means, for driving each of said conveyor means independently of the others; and f. control means, connected to said drive means and having means for sensing the advancement of logs or blocks to the infeed conveyor, for controlling the movement of said carriage means such that each of said carriage means will carry the intended end of one log or block from one end of the infeed conveyor to the other and then return to a standby position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
An infeed conveyor for feeding logs or blocks having first and second ends into a machine for subsequent processing, said infeed conveyor comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of endless conveyor means disposed in parallel; b. carriage means secured to each of said conveyor means and guided thereby in an endless path, said carriage means being adapted to carry a first end of a log or block and convey the same in the longitudinal direction into the processing machine; c. guide means, arranged under the path of movement of said carriage means, for longitudinally movable guidance of the second end of the log or block in a centered position relative to a central, vertical, longitudinal plane through the infeed conveyor; d. centering means, arranged on each of said carriage means, for centering and holding said first end of the log or block in said central plane as said first end is carried and conveyed; e. drive means, associated with said endless conveyor means, for driving each of said conveyor means independently of the others; and f. control means, connected to said drive means and having means for sensing the advancement of logs or blocks to the infeed conveyor, for controlling the movement of said carriage means such that each of said carriage means will carry the intended end of one log or block from one end of the infeed conveyor to the other and then return to a standby position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The infeed conveyor defined in claim 1, wherein each of said conveyor means comprises a pair of parallel chains.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
119 words
The infeed conveyor defined in claim 1, wherein said centering means includes two gripper arms and spring means for urging each one of said gripper arms towards the other, and wherein the infeed conveyor further comprises a first and second means for controlling the position of said Gripper arms, said first position-controlling means being arranged at the infeed end of the infeed conveyor and adapted to hold the gripper arms apart to enable them to grip the end of a log or block, and said second position-controlling means being arranged at the discharge end of the infeed conveyor and adapted to move the gripper arms apart on completion of the transport so that the log or block is released.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
84 words
The infeed conveyor defined in claim 3, wherein said gripper arms each include a double-armed lever pivotally journaled on a substantially vertical pivot, said double-armed lever having a first arm for gripping a log or block and a second arm for engaging said first and second position-controlling means, and wherein said first and second position-controlling means are fixed guides arranged at the ends of said infeed conveyor for urging said first arms of gripper arms apart when in engagement with said second arms thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The infeed conveyor defined in claim 4 wherein said second arm of said gripper arms is provided with roller means for engaging said fixed guides in rolling contact.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
90 words
The infeed conveyor defined in claim 4, wherein each of said gripper arms include a substantially vertical pivot shaft and a third arm projecting laterally from said pivot shaft and having a mounting for a tension spring; wherein said centering means further includes a rotatable member, lockable in an adjusted position, disposed centrally between the pivot shafts of said gripper arms and having two diametrically opposed spring mountings; and wherein said centering means further includes two tension springs each connected between one of said third arms and said rotatable member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The infeed conveyor defined in claim 6, wherein said two tension springs are removably attached to said third arms and said rotatable member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The infeed conveyor defined in claim 6, wherein said two tension springs are each formed of a strong rubber loop.