Board feeder

Abstract

A board feeder apparatus for a board conveying system that typically includes an infeed conveyor and an outfeed conveyor having a downstream end, and an upstream end overlapping with the board feeder apparatus which comprises an infeed end and an outfeed end, and an intermediate conveyance means for conveying boards transversely to the flow path essentially in edge-to-edge abutment of adjacent board trailing edges against subsequent board leading edges. Preferably the feeder apparatus further includes at least one cam wheel, each connected to a first drive shaft and having a circumferential edge defining a plurality of lobes. It also includes at least one acceleration wheel, each connected to the first drive shaft and having a circumference larger than that of said lobes. Also included is at least one first pivot-arm, each comprising a stop-end and a cam roller rollable atop the circumference of the lobes in accordance with rotation of the cam wheel by the drive shaft, said stop-end pivoting from a lowermost position below the bottom surface of the leading board and an uppermost position wherein the stop-end stops passage of the leading board onto the acceleration wheel. Also included is at least one biasing means of biasing the respective roller downwardly against the circumference of the cam wheel. During conveyance of boards down the board feeder apparatus, the stop-end in its uppermost position stops passage of the leading board until rotation of the drive shaft rotates the cam wheel and pivots the stop-end to its lowermost position so the conveyance means feeds the leading edge of the leading board onto the acceleration wheel, which pulls the leading board onto the outfeed conveyor. Ideally each stop end includes a roller reducing the friction with the underside of the leading board during pivoting, so conveyance to the acceleration wheel begins earlier (as the stop-end commences downward pivoting) and continues better even while the stop end pivots back upwardly and contacts the trailing portion of the departing leading board.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.