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US 10,093,489 B2Granted
Veneer transporting apparatus
AssigneeSweed Machinery, Inc.
InventorsTyler W. Casebeer, Chris J. Salyer, Burnell Wimer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An infeed rollcase for transporting an infeed object. The rollcase uses a split drive system to move infeed objects at varying speeds in different infeed decks of the infeed rollcase. By detecting the position of each infeed object along a front portion of each infeed deck, the drive speed of the split drive system is varied such that the infeed objects maintain a predetermined position (e.g., overlapping) with respect to a preceding infeed object.
Claims22
An infeed rollcase comprising:
- a plurality of infeed decks each including an actuator, wherein each of the plurality of infeed decks is configured to transport a plurality of infeed objects in parallel with other infeed decks of the plurality of infeed decks, wherein:
- each infeed object follows a corresponding preceding infeed object;
- each infeed object includes a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- and
- each infeed deck includes:
- a front portion having an infeed end and an outfeed end and including a front transporter;
- and
- a back portion having an infeed end and an outfeed end and including a back transporter, wherein a corresponding infeed object transported by the infeed deck passes from the infeed end of the front portion, to the outfeed end of the front portion, to the infeed end of the back portion, and to the outfeed end of the back portion;
- and
- a split drive system including:
- a plurality of front motors, wherein each front motor drives a corresponding front transporter of a corresponding one of the plurality of infeed decks;
- at least one back motor, wherein the at least one back motor drives the back transporter of each of the plurality of infeed decks;
- and
- circuitry configured to:
- determine the position of a leading edge of the infeed objects being transported along the front transporter of each of the plurality of infeed decks;
- and
- be operable to control a drive speed of each of the front motors based on the determined position of the leading edge of the infeed object along the corresponding front transporter, selectively such that either:
- the infeed object being transported by each infeed deck reaches the back portion at the same time;
- or
- the infeed object being transported by each infeed deck overlaps with the corresponding preceding infeed object being transported along a same infeed deck.
17 more elements
A method for controlling the transport of infeed objects being transported by an infeed rollcase, the method comprising:
- providing the infeed rollcase comprising a plurality of infeed decks each including an actuator, a plurality of front motors, and at least one back motor, wherein each of the plurality of infeed decks is configured to transport a plurality of infeed objects in parallel with other infeed decks of the plurality of infeed decks;
- receiving at each infeed deck the plurality of infeed objects, wherein:
- each infeed object besides a first infeed object follows a corresponding preceding infeed object;
- and
- each infeed object includes a leading edge and a trailing edge;
- transporting along a front portion of each infeed deck a corresponding infeed object from an infeed end of the infeed deck to an outfeed end of the infeed deck;
- transporting the corresponding infeed object from the front portion of each infeed deck to a back portion of the infeed deck;
- determining a position of a leading edge of the infeed object being transported along the front transporter of each of the plurality of infeed decks;
- and
- controlling a speed of transporting the infeed object along the front portion and along the back portion, wherein:
- a corresponding front motor of the plurality of front motors drives a speed of transporting along the front portion of each of the plurality of infeed decks;
- the at least one back motor drives a speed of transporting along the back portion of each of the plurality of infeed decks;
- and
- for each of the plurality of front motors, the speed of transporting is determined based on the determined position of the leading edge of the infeed object along the corresponding front transporter, selectively such that;
- the infeed object being transported by each infeed deck reaches the back portion at the same time;
- or
- the infeed object being transported by each infeed deck overlaps with the corresponding preceding infeed object being transported along a same infeed deck;
- and
- transporting the corresponding infeed object from an infeed end of the back portion to an outfeed end of the back portion.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.