Side ejector for band saw conveyor or the like

Claim 2

In an ejector for ejecting a lengthy workpiece broadwise following cutoff in a band saw or the like, the combination comprising a conveyor extending downstream from the band saw, an ejector bar having a storage position in which it extends along one side of the conveyor, the ejector bar having an extensive pushing surface for parallel surface engagement of workpieces of different length, means providing first and second loops of chain extending transversely of the conveyor and coupled to the respective ends of the ejector bar, first and second reversible actuators, means including a rack and pinion connection for coupling the actuators to the chains, means including a reversing valve for applying pressure fluid to one end of said actuators for movement of the ejector bar from its storage position to its ejecting position and for applying pressure fluid to the opposite end of the actuators for restoring the ejector bar to its storage position, a positive metering type flow divider interposed between the reversing valve and the actuators for metering fluid to and from the actuators in substantially equal amounts for substantially equal movement of the ejector bar at its ends, a diverter valve associated with each of the actuators for diverting the pressure fluid applied to the associated actuator upon completion of the actuator stroke so that in the event one actuator completes its stroke before the other the flow divider may continue to operate until the second actuator also completes its stroke thereby to insure the return of each end of the ejector bar fully to a storage reference position.

Claim 3

In an ejector for ejecting a lengthy workpiece broadwise following cut-off in a band saw or the like, the combination comprising a conveyor extending downstream from the band saw, an ejector bar having a storage position in which it extends along one side of the conveyor, means providing first and second loops of chain trained about spaced sprockets and extending transversely of the conveyor and coupled to the ends of the ejector bar, first and second reversible fluid actuators, each of said actuators having a rack and small diameter rack pinion with the pinions being coupled to sprockets of the respective chains for multiplying the stroke of the chains with respect to the stroke of the actuators, a source of pressure fluid, means including a flow divider having its input connected to the source of pressure fluid and its outputs connected respectively to the actuators for achieving equalized movements of the chains, the flow divider being of the type having a pair of gear sets mechanically coupled together for rotation in unison for metering of equal amounts of fluid to the outputs, and means effective upon the bottoming of one of the actuators for diverting fluid therefrom to enable continued operation of the flow divider until bottoming occurs in the other actuator.

Claim 4

In an ejector for ejecting a lengthy workpiece broadwise following cut-off in a band saw or the like, the combination comprising a conveyor extending downstream from the band saw, an ejector bar having a storage position in which it extends along one side of the conveyor, means providing first and second loops of chain trained about spaced sprockets and extending transversely of the conveyor and coupled to the ends of the ejector bar, first and second reversible fluid actuators, each of said actuators having a rack and small diameter rack pinion with the pinions being coupled to sprockets of the respective chains for multiplying the stroke of the chains with respect to the stroke of the actuators, a source of pressure fluid, means including a flow divider having its input connected to the source of pressure fluid and its outputs connected respectively to the actuators for achieving equalized movements of the chains, the flow divider being of the type having a pair of gear sets mechanically coupled together for rotation in unison for metering of equal amounts of fluid to the outputs, and means effective upon the bottoming of one of the actuators for diverting fluid therefrom to enable continued operation of the flow divider until bottoming occurs in the other actuator.

Claim 5

In an ejector for ejecting a lengthy workpiece broadwise following cut-off in a band saw or the like, the combination comprising a conveyor extending downstream from the band saw, a dead stop extending transversely of the conveyor, an ejector bar having a storage position in which it extends along one side of the conveyor, the dead stop being positionable between the chain drive assemblies and recessed to bridge the ejector bar when the latter is in storage reference position, the dead stop being rockable upwardly out of the way of the ejector bar, first and second chain drive assemblies presenting first and second loops of chain extending transversely of the conveyor and coupled to the respective ends of the ejector bar, first and second reversible actuators, means including rack and pinion connections for coupling the actuators to the chains, means including a reversing valve for applying pressure to one end of said actuators for movement of the ejector bar from its storage position to its ejecting position and for applying pressure fluid to the opposite end of the actuators for restoring the ejector bar to its storage position, a positive metering type flow divider interposed between the reversing valve and type flow divider interposed between the reversing valve and the actuators for metering fluid to and from the actuators in substantially equal amounts for substantially equal movement of the ejector bar at its ends, a diverter associated with each of the actuators for diverting the pressure fluid applied to the associated actuator upon completion of the actuator stroke so that in the event one actuator completes its stroke before the other the flow divider may continue to operate until the second actuator also completes its stroke thereby to insure the return of each end of the ejector bar fully to the storage reference position.

Claim 6

In an ejector for ejecting a lengthy workpiece broadwise following cut-off in a band saw or the like, the combination comprising a conveyor extending downstream from the band saw, a dead stop extending transversely of the conveyor, an ejector bar having a storage position in which it extends along one side of the conveyor, the dead stop being positionable between the chain drive assemblies and recessed to bridge the ejector bar when the latter is in storage reference position, the dead stop being rockable upwardly out of the way of the ejector bar, first and second chain drive assemblies presenting first and second loops of chain extending transversely of the conveyor and coupled to the respective ends of the ejector bar, first and second reversible actuators, means including rack and pinion connections for coupling the actuators to the chains, means including a reversing valve for applying pressure to one end of said actuators for movement of the ejector bar from its storage position to its ejecting position and for applying pressure fluid to the opposite end of the actuators for restoring the ejector bar to its storage position, a positive metering type flow divider interposed between the reversing valve and type flow divider interposed between the reversing valve and the actuators for metering fluid to and from the actuators in substantially equal amounts for substantially equal movement of the ejector bar at its ends, a diverter associated with each of the actuators for diverting the pressure fluid applied to the associated actuator upon completion of the actuator stroke so that in the event one actuator completes its stroke before the other the flow divider may continue to operate until the second actuator also completes its stroke thereby to insure the return of each end of the ejector bar fully to the storage reference position.