US3737052A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Carriage drive for lumber stacker
Assignee: Coe Manufacturing Co
•
Filing: 1972-01-03
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1992-01-03
Abstract
Abstract A crank carriage drive for a lumber stacking machine is described for gradually and smoothly accelerating the carriage from a course picking station and gradually and smoothly decelerating the carriage at a course stacking station. The crank drive has a crank arm rotatable about a crank axis and a crank connecting link interconnecting the crank arm and the carriage. One end of the connecting link pivots about a wrist pin axis as the crank is rotated. Maximum pivotal displacement of the connecting link occurs at the beginning and at the end of the forward stroke of the drive. A mechanism is provided that is responsive to the pivotal movement of the connecting link about the wrist pin axis to, (1), raise a course support means at the course pickup station to pick up a course, (2), carry the course to the course stacking station and, (3), lower the course at the stacking station.
Inventors
- 👤 S Lunden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:41
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G57/00; B65G57/02; B65G57/16; B65G57/18
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
240 words
In A lumber stacking apparatus, means for reciprocating a carriage between a course pickup station and course stacking station and for vertically moving a course support means on the carriage to pick up a course of boards at the course pickup station and to lower the course of boards at the course stacking station, comprising: a crank mechanism connected to the carriage having a crank arm affixed to a crank shaft and a connecting link having one end pivotally connected to the crank arm and an opposite end operatively connected to the carriage for pivotal movement about a wrist pin axis to move the carriage in a reciprocating stroke between the course pickup station and the course stacking station in response to the rotation of the crank shaft; elevating means operatively connected to the connecting link for vertically moving the course support means in response to the pivotal movement of the connecting link about the wrist pin axis at the beginning and end of the stroke; and a motor means operatively connected to the crank shaft for rotating the crank shaft at least in part circle at a relatively constant angular velocity to gradually and smoothly accelerate the carriage and vertically raise the course support means to pick up the course at the beginning of the forward stroke and the gradually and smoothly decelerate the carriage and vertically lower the course support means near the end of the forward stroke.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
240 words
In A lumber stacking apparatus, means for reciprocating a carriage between a course pickup station and course stacking station and for vertically moving a course support means on the carriage to pick up a course of boards at the course pickup station and to lower the course of boards at the course stacking station, comprising: a crank mechanism connected to the carriage having a crank arm affixed to a crank shaft and a connecting link having one end pivotally connected to the crank arm and an opposite end operatively connected to the carriage for pivotal movement about a wrist pin axis to move the carriage in a reciprocating stroke between the course pickup station and the course stacking station in response to the rotation of the crank shaft; elevating means operatively connected to the connecting link for vertically moving the course support means in response to the pivotal movement of the connecting link about the wrist pin axis at the beginning and end of the stroke; and a motor means operatively connected to the crank shaft for rotating the crank shaft at least in part circle at a relatively constant angular velocity to gradually and smoothly accelerate the carriage and vertically raise the course support means to pick up the course at the beginning of the forward stroke and the gradually and smoothly decelerate the carriage and vertically lower the course support means near the end of the forward stroke.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
94 words
In the lumber stacking apparatus as set out in claim 1 wherein the elevating means includes a cam mechanism that is responsive to the pivotal movement of the connecting link about the wrist pin axis for, (1), raising the course support means at the beginning of the forward stroke to pick up a course at the course pick up station, (2), maintaining the course support means elevated during the forward stroke, and, (3), lowering the course support means at the end of the forward stroke to lower the course at the course stacking station.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
In the lumber stacking apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the cam mechanism has a cam that is mounted on the carriage for pivotal movement about a cam axis in response to the pivotal movement of the connecting rod about the wrist pin axis and a cam follower operatively connected to the course support means for engaging the cam, said cam having a lobe with a selected profile to move the cam follower to raise the course support means at the beginning of the stroke and lower the course support means at the end of the forward stroke.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
In the lumber stacking apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein the lobe has a first surface with a rapidly increasing radius of curvature for engaging the cam follower during the beginning and at the end of the forward stroke to raise and to lower the course support means respectively and a second surface of substantially constant radius of curvature communicating with the first surface to maintain the course support means elevated between the beginning and end of the forward stroke.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
In the lumber stacking apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the lumber stacking apparatus has a stripping means at the course stacking station and wherein the elevating means raises the course support means a sufficient distance to clear the stripping means during the forward stroke and then lowers the course support means in front of the stripping means and wherein the motor means rotates the crank full circle to move the carriage from the course stacking station to the course pickup station in a return stroke while maintaining the course support means lowered to strip the course from the course support means against the stripping means during the return stroke of the carriage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
In the lumber stacking apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein the crank shaft axis is vertically offset a desired distance from the wrist pin axis to provide a quick return of the carriage during the return stroke.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
106 words
In the lumber stacking apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the lumber stackiNg apparatus has a course formation means at the course pickup station that includes a board feeding means for successively feeding boards to the course pickup station and a stop means projecting into the path of the fed boards to form a course of boards behind the stop means and wherein the elevating means raises the course support means a sufficient distance to pick up the formed course and to elevate the formed course above the stop means to carry the course over the stop means during the forward stroke of the carriage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
212 words
A lumber stacking apparatus, comprising: a frame; a carriage mounted on the frame for movement between a course pickup station and a course stacking station; a course support means mounted on the carriage for vertical movement to pickup up a course at the course pickup station and lower the course at the course stacking station; a crank drive means operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage in a forward stroke from the course pickup station to the course stacking station, in which the crank drive means has a crank arm affixed to a crank shaft and a connecting link with one end pivotally connected to the crank arm and an opposite end operatively connected to the carriage for pivotal movement about a wrist pin axis to gradually and smoothly accelerate the carriage from the course pickup station and to gradually and smoothly decelerate the carriage to the course stacking station; and means operatively connected to the connecting link for vertically moving the course support means in response to the pivotable movement of the connecting link about the wrist pin axis to raise the course support means to pick up a course at the beginning of the forward stroke and to lower the course at the end of the forward stroke.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
212 words
A lumber stacking apparatus, comprising: a frame; a carriage mounted on the frame for movement between a course pickup station and a course stacking station; a course support means mounted on the carriage for vertical movement to pickup up a course at the course pickup station and lower the course at the course stacking station; a crank drive means operatively connected to the carriage for moving the carriage in a forward stroke from the course pickup station to the course stacking station, in which the crank drive means has a crank arm affixed to a crank shaft and a connecting link with one end pivotally connected to the crank arm and an opposite end operatively connected to the carriage for pivotal movement about a wrist pin axis to gradually and smoothly accelerate the carriage from the course pickup station and to gradually and smoothly decelerate the carriage to the course stacking station; and means operatively connected to the connecting link for vertically moving the course support means in response to the pivotable movement of the connecting link about the wrist pin axis to raise the course support means to pick up a course at the beginning of the forward stroke and to lower the course at the end of the forward stroke.
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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) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |