US3696948A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Lumber bin sorter with guide sling and tiltable bin floor
Assignee: Coe Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1970-10-05
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Granted: 1972-10-10
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Expires: 1990-10-05
Abstract
Abstract A lumber bin sorter, of the type having a multiplicity of bins to which graded lumber is carried by an overhead conveyor and ejected into designated bin locations, wherein each of the bins is provided with a rotatable torque tube member positioned at the bottom of the bin stall adjacent to and extending laterally of a bin wall. Projecting out horizontally from the periphery of the tube member are a plurality of laterally spaced girders bridging the space between adjacent bin walls and serving as a floor for the bin. At the extended end of certain of the floor girders is pivotally connected a counterweighted sling arm which angles upwards and serves to cushion the impact and guide the positioning of the initial boards dropping into an empty bin. The bin floor is held stationary in a horizontal position by a hydraulic latch securing in a retracted position a hydraulic actuator connected between the floor structure and the bin frame. As the bin fills up, the weight of the collected lumber pulls against the counterweight to gradually drop the sling arm in a vertical arc until eventually it assumes a substantially horizontal position resting against the tube member. When it is desired to empty a filled bin, the floor is allowed to start downward by the release of the latch on the actuator which in turn extends and allows the tube member to rotate about its axis, and pivot the floor downward, so as to form a bottom opening in the bin for gently depositing its contents onto a conveyor traveling underneath.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth E Murdoch
- 👤 Donald B Turner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:02
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G47/00; B65G47/34; B65G47/44; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S209/00; Y10S209/933
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
157 words
A lumber bin sorter apparatus comprising: an overhead conveyor carrying individual pieces of graded lumber and ejecting pieces of like character into a designated one of a multiplicity of bin storage locations, certain of said bin storage locations being formed by a pair of spaced walls together with a floor member for supporting lumber pieces dropping into said bin location, said floor member having yieldable sling means positioned thereabove for cushioning the impact of the initial group of boards dropping into the bin, said sling means being comprised of a spaced plurality of rigid arm members each pivotably connected at one end to said floor member and whose respective other end is connected by cable means to a counterweight, whereupon the position of said arm members at any given stage during the filling of said bin is determined by the opposing forces of said counterweight and the weight of the lumber then resting on said arm members.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
157 words
A lumber bin sorter apparatus comprising: an overhead conveyor carrying individual pieces of graded lumber and ejecting pieces of like character into a designated one of a multiplicity of bin storage locations, certain of said bin storage locations being formed by a pair of spaced walls together with a floor member for supporting lumber pieces dropping into said bin location, said floor member having yieldable sling means positioned thereabove for cushioning the impact of the initial group of boards dropping into the bin, said sling means being comprised of a spaced plurality of rigid arm members each pivotably connected at one end to said floor member and whose respective other end is connected by cable means to a counterweight, whereupon the position of said arm members at any given stage during the filling of said bin is determined by the opposing forces of said counterweight and the weight of the lumber then resting on said arm members.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
207 words
A lumber bin sorter apparatus comprising: an overhead conveyor carrying individual pieces of graded lumber and ejecting pieces of like character into a designated one of a multiplicity of bin storage locations, certain of said bin storage locations being formed by a pair of spaced walls together with a floor member for supporting lumber pieces dropping into said bin location, said floor member being formed of a plurality of girders projecting out in cantilever fashion from and axially spaced along a torque tube member mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and aligned parallel and adjacent to one of said pair of bin walls, said torque tube member being substantially the sole means of attachment and support for said girders; actuator means coupled to said torque tube member by radially extending lever arm and in the quiescent condition maintaining said torque tube member in a position wherein said girders are substantially in a horizontal position but upon energization of said actuator means said torque tube member rotates at a controlled rate causing said floor member to tilt downward at a gradual rate of descent in a vertical arc forming an opening at the bottom of said bin for gently discharging the contents thereof onto an underlying surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
207 words
A lumber bin sorter apparatus comprising: an overhead conveyor carrying individual pieces of graded lumber and ejecting pieces of like character into a designated one of a multiplicity of bin storage locations, certain of said bin storage locations being formed by a pair of spaced walls together with a floor member for supporting lumber pieces dropping into said bin location, said floor member being formed of a plurality of girders projecting out in cantilever fashion from and axially spaced along a torque tube member mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis, and aligned parallel and adjacent to one of said pair of bin walls, said torque tube member being substantially the sole means of attachment and support for said girders; actuator means coupled to said torque tube member by radially extending lever arm and in the quiescent condition maintaining said torque tube member in a position wherein said girders are substantially in a horizontal position but upon energization of said actuator means said torque tube member rotates at a controlled rate causing said floor member to tilt downward at a gradual rate of descent in a vertical arc forming an opening at the bottom of said bin for gently discharging the contents thereof onto an underlying surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
222 words
A lumber bin sorter apparatus comprising: an overhead conveyor carrying individual pieces of graded lumber and ejecting pieces of like character into a designated one of a multiplicity of bin storage locations, certain of said bin storage locations being formed by a pair of spaced walls together with a floor member for supporting lumber pieces dropping into said bin location, said floor member being formed of a plurality of girders projecting out from and axially spaced along a torque tube member aligned parallel and adjacent to one of said pair of bin walls with certain of said girders being provided with sling means in the form of a rod arm pivotally connected at one end to the extremity of said girder and whose other end is connected by cable means to a counter weight which urges said rod arm to assume an upwardly angled position, said torque tube member being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and coupled to actuator means, said actuator means in the quiescent condition maintaining said torque tube member in a position wherein said girders are substantially in a horizontal position but upon energization of said actuator said torque tube member rotates causing said floor member to tilt downward in a vertical arc forming an opening at the bottom of said bin for discharging the contents thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
222 words
A lumber bin sorter apparatus comprising: an overhead conveyor carrying individual pieces of graded lumber and ejecting pieces of like character into a designated one of a multiplicity of bin storage locations, certain of said bin storage locations being formed by a pair of spaced walls together with a floor member for supporting lumber pieces dropping into said bin location, said floor member being formed of a plurality of girders projecting out from and axially spaced along a torque tube member aligned parallel and adjacent to one of said pair of bin walls with certain of said girders being provided with sling means in the form of a rod arm pivotally connected at one end to the extremity of said girder and whose other end is connected by cable means to a counter weight which urges said rod arm to assume an upwardly angled position, said torque tube member being mounted for rotation about its longitudinal axis and coupled to actuator means, said actuator means in the quiescent condition maintaining said torque tube member in a position wherein said girders are substantially in a horizontal position but upon energization of said actuator said torque tube member rotates causing said floor member to tilt downward in a vertical arc forming an opening at the bottom of said bin for discharging the contents thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The sorter apparatus of claim 3 wherein said counterweight is selected so that said rod arm gradually pivots downward under the increasing weight of successive boards dropped into said bin until it comes to rest with its free end bearing against said torque tube member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
49 words
The sorter apparatus of claim 4 further characterized in that said rod arm is of crooked configuration such that when its free end comes to rest against said torque tube member the major portion of its length is co-planar with or beneath the upper surface of its respective girder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The sorter apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that said floor girders are formed respectively of a pair of longitudinal channel members spaced slightly apart between which the pivot end of said rod arm is sandwiched at the extremity of the girder.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-10 | 1976-04-10 | 1976-10-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-10 | 1980-04-10 | 1980-10-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-10 | 1984-04-10 | 1984-10-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |