US3813980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Trimming apparatus
Assignee: Publishers Paper Co
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Filing: 1972-09-28
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Granted: 1974-06-04
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Expires: 1992-09-28
Abstract
Abstract Lumber trimming apparatus including an elongated conveyor for carrying a bundle of lumber along a path with the bundle extending lengthwise of the path. A trimmer saw is movable across the path to trim ends of the bundle. An infeed conveyor section upstream in the path from the saw positions and holds the bundle for trimming of its lead end. An outfeed conveyor section downstream from the saw includes an elongated carriage extending longitudinally of the path and mounted for reciprocal movement along the path. Mounted on the carriage are support rollers which are driven under power to move a bundle rapidly along the path. The rollers are stopped when the bundle is approximately positioned for trimming of its trailing end. A ram connected to the carriage is operable to shift the carriage and a bundle thereon slowly and precisely to accurately position the trailing end of the bundle for trimming. An indicator carriage movable on a track parallel to the path includes an arm which is engaged by the leading end of the bundle and is carried thereby, with a tape measure indicating the distance from the leading end of the bundle to the saw. The arm is swingable out of the path of the bundle to allow the bundle to continue along the path after trimming.
Inventors
- 👤 D Rand
- 👤 E Smith
- 👤 R Tinney
- 👤 C Woods
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:08
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23Q; B23Q16/00; B23Q16/001; B23D; B23D59/00; B23D59/001; B27; B27B; B27B1/00; B27B1/002; B27B31/00; B27B31/003; B27B5/00; B27B5/02; B27B5/06; B27B5/065; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T83/00; Y10T83/444; Y10T83/4564; Y10T83/4567; Y10T83/566; Y10T83/5669; Y10T83/5815; Y10T83/748; Y10T83/7593; Y10T83/76; Y10T83/7607; Y10T83/7627; Y10T83/764
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
Trimming apparatus comprising trimmer means movable along a trimming path and operable to cut material extending across said path, and means for positioning material with a portion thereof extending across said trimming path comprising an elongate, substantially horizontal carriage mounted for reciprocal movement in reverse directions along a conveyor path extending at a substantial angle relative to said trimming path, first moving means comprising an interruptible power-driven conveyor mounted on said carriage operable to support such material and convey the same in one direction along said conveyor path over said carriage at a first speed to position such material approximately relative to said trimming path, and second moving means comprising power-operated carriage drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving the carriage and conveyor mounted thereon in one of said reverse directions at a speed slower than said first speed when operation of said first moving means is interrupted to precisely position such material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
Trimming apparatus comprising trimmer means movable along a trimming path and operable to cut material extending across said path, and means for positioning material with a portion thereof extending across said trimming path comprising an elongate, substantially horizontal carriage mounted for reciprocal movement in reverse directions along a conveyor path extending at a substantial angle relative to said trimming path, first moving means comprising an interruptible power-driven conveyor mounted on said carriage operable to support such material and convey the same in one direction along said conveyor path over said carriage at a first speed to position such material approximately relative to said trimming path, and second moving means comprising power-operated carriage drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving the carriage and conveyor mounted thereon in one of said reverse directions at a speed slower than said first speed when operation of said first moving means is interrupted to precisely position such material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises a plurality of rollers journaled on said carriage for rotation about substantially horizontal axes extending transversely of thE conveyor path and interruptible drive means operatively connected to said rollers for rotating the same about said axes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said carriage drive means comprises an extensible-contractible, fluid-operated ram.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
243 words
Trimming apparatus comprising an elongated material positioning conveyor for supporting material to be trimmed and operable to convey such material along a path extending longitudinally thereof, trimmer means intermediate the ends of said conveyor mounted for movement across said path for trimming material supported on said conveyor, said conveyor comprising an elongated infeed section disposed upstream from said trimmer means operable to position such material in the path with its leading end in a position to be trimmed by the trimmer means, and an elongated outfeed section extending in the direction of said path downstream from said trimmer means for supporting such material and for conveying the same along said path away from said infeed section, said outfeed section comprising an elongated, substantially horizontal carriage extending in the direction of said path, means mounting said carriage for reciprocal movement in reverse directions paralleling said path, a plurality of material support rollers journaled on said carriage for rotation about substantially horizontal axes extending transversely of said path, interruptible power-operated roller drive means operatively connected to said rollers for rotating the same to convey material supported thereon at a first speed along said path to approximately position such material relative to the trimmer means, and power-operated carriage drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving the same in one of said reverse directions paralleling said path at a speed slower than said first speed for precisely positioning such material relative to said trimmer means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
243 words
Trimming apparatus comprising an elongated material positioning conveyor for supporting material to be trimmed and operable to convey such material along a path extending longitudinally thereof, trimmer means intermediate the ends of said conveyor mounted for movement across said path for trimming material supported on said conveyor, said conveyor comprising an elongated infeed section disposed upstream from said trimmer means operable to position such material in the path with its leading end in a position to be trimmed by the trimmer means, and an elongated outfeed section extending in the direction of said path downstream from said trimmer means for supporting such material and for conveying the same along said path away from said infeed section, said outfeed section comprising an elongated, substantially horizontal carriage extending in the direction of said path, means mounting said carriage for reciprocal movement in reverse directions paralleling said path, a plurality of material support rollers journaled on said carriage for rotation about substantially horizontal axes extending transversely of said path, interruptible power-operated roller drive means operatively connected to said rollers for rotating the same to convey material supported thereon at a first speed along said path to approximately position such material relative to the trimmer means, and power-operated carriage drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving the same in one of said reverse directions paralleling said path at a speed slower than said first speed for precisely positioning such material relative to said trimmer means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said carriage drive means comprises an extensible-contractible, fluid-operated ram.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
99 words
The apparatus of claim 4, which further comprises measuring means for measuring the distance from the trimmer means to an end of material on said outfeed conveyor section, said measuring means comprising an indicator carriage mounted for movement parallel to said path independently of said outfeed conveyor section carriage, an engaging member, means mounting said engaging member on said indicator carriage for movement between an operative position extending into the path of material conveyed along said path, and an inoperative position spaced laterally of said path, and means indicating the distance from said engaging member to said trimmer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 6, which further comprises means yieldably urging said indicator carriage toward said trimmer means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said engaging member comprises an elongated arm pivotally mounted adjacent one of its ends on said indicator carriage for swinging between its said operative and inoperative positions, and said arm is swingable in a direction generally downstream along said path on movement from its operative to its inoperative position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said measuring means further comprises power-operated means operatively connected to said arm for swinging the same between its operative and inoperative positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said measuring means comprises an elongated guide rail extending parallel to said path, said rail having a ridge extending longitudinally along its upper surface and sloping side margins which diverge on progressing downwardly from said ridge, and said indicator carriage includes means thereon having a lower surface which substantially conforms to and is mounted for movement longitudinally along the ridge and side margins of the guide rail.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for trimming boards to length comprising an upright saw movable along a cutting path, and means for positioning a board with a poRtion thereof extending across said cutting path, whereby the same may be trimmed to a desired length, comprising an elongated horizontal carriage extending substantially normal to said cutting path, a plurality of board support rollers journaled on the carriage for rotation about horizontal axes extending transversely of the carriage, interruptible drive means operatively connected to said rollers for rotating the same to convey a board supported thereon along a path normal to the cutting path, means mounting the carriage for reciprocal movement toward and away from said cutting path, and power-operated carriage drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving the same toward and away from said cutting path at a speed slower than the speed with which said rollers are operable to move a board.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
150 words
Apparatus for trimming boards to length comprising an upright saw movable along a cutting path, and means for positioning a board with a poRtion thereof extending across said cutting path, whereby the same may be trimmed to a desired length, comprising an elongated horizontal carriage extending substantially normal to said cutting path, a plurality of board support rollers journaled on the carriage for rotation about horizontal axes extending transversely of the carriage, interruptible drive means operatively connected to said rollers for rotating the same to convey a board supported thereon along a path normal to the cutting path, means mounting the carriage for reciprocal movement toward and away from said cutting path, and power-operated carriage drive means operatively connected to said carriage for moving the same toward and away from said cutting path at a speed slower than the speed with which said rollers are operable to move a board.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said carriage drive means comprises an extensible-contractible fluid-operated ram.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-03 | 1977-12-03 | 1978-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-03 | 1981-12-03 | 1982-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-03 | 1985-12-03 | 1986-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |