Patent US3698708A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3698708A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Veneer stacker
Assignee: CAROTHERS SHEET METAL CO
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Filing: 1971-01-18
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Granted: 1972-10-17
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Expires: 1991-01-18
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for sorting and stacking veneer sheets comprising a vacuum infeed conveyor transporting individual sheets of veneer width-wise to a position above a scissors lift table whereupon parallel-motion knockdown arms are actuated to force the sheet loose from the vacuum conveyor and down onto the top of a pile forming on the lift. Squaring of the pile of sheets into a uniform stack is accomplished by the knockdown arms which move the forward lateral edge of the sheet up against a fixed stop acting in conjunction with a pair of actuatable even-ender pusher arms which align the longitudinal edges of the sheet. When a predetermined pile height is reached, as determined by the downward indexing of the scissors lift, the completed pile is discharged from the apparatus by an outfeed conveyor. While the pile is being discharged a pair of accumulator members are moved into position beneath the knockdown arms so as to temporarily support and retain the initial several sheets of a new pile as the scissors lift is discharged and recycled to the position where it is ready to receive the new pile in formation. A modification of the apparatus provides one or more additional bin locations adjacent the first bin location to receive and segregate the veneer sheets into stacks according to size or other criterion.
Inventors
- 👤 Philip E Brawn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 05:16
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H31/00; B65H31/30; B65H31/3054; B65H29/00; B65H29/26; B65H29/32; B65H31/32; B65H31/34; B65H2301/00; B65H2301/40; B65H2301/42; B65H2301/422; B65H2301/4225; B65H2301/42256; B65H2406/00; B65H2406/30; B65H2406/32; B65H2406/323; B65H2701/00; B65H2701/10; B65H2701/19; B65H2701/1938
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
250 words
Apparatus for stacking veneer sheets comprising: a. vacuum infeed conveyor means for horizontally transporting individual sheets of veneer by suction applied to their respective upper surfaces to a predetermined position above a bin location area, b. knockdown arm means actuable to force said respective sheets loose from said conveyor and down onto the top of a pile formed of said sheets, said knockdown arms comprising a horizontal member, pivotally supported at two points by vertical swing arms so as to move with parallel motion in a vertical arcuate path, and forwardly-projecting spring finger means depending from the leading edge of said horizontal member to assist in the lateral alignment of the sheet into the stack, said horizontal member and said projecting spring finger contacting the top surface of said veneer along the substantial length thereof causing each sheet deposited to be maintained in a substantially horizontal orientation as it is deposited onto the top of said pile of sheets, c. fixed stop means positioned to contact and terminate the forward travel of the leading edge of a sheet deposited on the top of said pile at a predetermined vertical plane location where a lateral edge of said pile is to be formed, and d. a spring-biased serrated jaw anti-kickback element contacting the upper surface of said leading edge of a sheet as it is deposited on said pile and acting to retain it in a horizontal position abutting against said stop until the next sheet is deposited onto said pile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
250 words
Apparatus for stacking veneer sheets comprising: a. vacuum infeed conveyor means for horizontally transporting individual sheets of veneer by suction applied to their respective upper surfaces to a predetermined position above a bin location area, b. knockdown arm means actuable to force said respective sheets loose from said conveyor and down onto the top of a pile formed of said sheets, said knockdown arms comprising a horizontal member, pivotally supported at two points by vertical swing arms so as to move with parallel motion in a vertical arcuate path, and forwardly-projecting spring finger means depending from the leading edge of said horizontal member to assist in the lateral alignment of the sheet into the stack, said horizontal member and said projecting spring finger contacting the top surface of said veneer along the substantial length thereof causing each sheet deposited to be maintained in a substantially horizontal orientation as it is deposited onto the top of said pile of sheets, c. fixed stop means positioned to contact and terminate the forward travel of the leading edge of a sheet deposited on the top of said pile at a predetermined vertical plane location where a lateral edge of said pile is to be formed, and d. a spring-biased serrated jaw anti-kickback element contacting the upper surface of said leading edge of a sheet as it is deposited on said pile and acting to retain it in a horizontal position abutting against said stop until the next sheet is deposited onto said pile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
186 words
In an apparatus for stacking veneer sheets inside a bin wherein individual sheets of veneer are horizontally transported to a predetermined position above said bin and then are deposited on top of a pile formed of said sheets, and accumulator means are provided for temporarily supporting the initial sheets of a new pile while a completed pile of sheets is removed from said bin, the improvement wherein said accumulator means comprises: a. a pair of support arm members each respectively formed of a vertical leg portion mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical arc relative to the frame of said bin, a horizontal portion, and spring-biased coupling means providing limited articulation of said vertical leg portion relative to said horizontal portion, b. actuator means for moving said support arm members between respective retracted and actuated positions, and c. cam-and-follower means controlling the vertical articulation of said horizontal portion of said respective support arm members wherein the pile of veneer sheets deposited and supported thereon are maintained in a horizontal plane at a substantially constant elevation as said support members move between said actuated and retracted positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
186 words
In an apparatus for stacking veneer sheets inside a bin wherein individual sheets of veneer are horizontally transported to a predetermined position above said bin and then are deposited on top of a pile formed of said sheets, and accumulator means are provided for temporarily supporting the initial sheets of a new pile while a completed pile of sheets is removed from said bin, the improvement wherein said accumulator means comprises: a. a pair of support arm members each respectively formed of a vertical leg portion mounted for pivotal movement in a vertical arc relative to the frame of said bin, a horizontal portion, and spring-biased coupling means providing limited articulation of said vertical leg portion relative to said horizontal portion, b. actuator means for moving said support arm members between respective retracted and actuated positions, and c. cam-and-follower means controlling the vertical articulation of said horizontal portion of said respective support arm members wherein the pile of veneer sheets deposited and supported thereon are maintained in a horizontal plane at a substantially constant elevation as said support members move between said actuated and retracted positions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |