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US 2011/0072990 A1Published application
Lumber printer
AssigneeBaxley Equipment Co.
InventorsRussell Kennedy, Pat Conry, Chris Raybon, Doug Tinsley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Provided is a printer for printing stamps on boards and a method of printing stamps on boards. The printer is capable of printing multiple types of stamps simultaneously on boards.
Claims28
A lumber printer comprising:
- a support constructed and arranged such that a length of the support can mount over a width of a conveyor for conveying boards transversely to be stamped;
- a drive shaft rotatably mounted to the support, the drive shaft disposed generally in the direction of the length of the support;
- a plurality of arms movably connected to the drive shaft;
- at least one lift mechanism constructed and arranged for lifting and lowering at least one arm;
- at least one wheel rotatably mounted to at least one arm, the wheel having a plurality of stamps located around an outer surface of the wheel, and the wheel rotatably driven by rotation of the shaft;
- a drive mechanism constructed and arranged for rotating the drive shaft;
- a wheel position device constructed and arranged for determining a location of the stamps on the wheel;
- and
- an ink supply mechanism constructed and arranged for applying ink to the stamps.
6 more elements
A method of stamping boards using a printer comprising:
- a support constructed and arranged such that a length of the support mounts over a width of a conveyor for conveying boards transversely to be stamped;
- a drive shaft rotatably mounted to the support, the drive shaft disposed in generally the direction of the length of the support;
- a plurality of arms movably connected to the drive shaft;
- a plurality of lift mechanisms constructed and arranged for lifting and lowering the arms;
- a plurality of wheels rotatably mounted to the arms, the wheels having a plurality of stamps located around an outer surface of the wheels, and the wheels rotatably driven by rotation of the shaft;
- a drive mechanism constructed and arranged for rotating the drive shaft;
- a wheel position device constructed and arranged for determining a location of the stamps on the wheels;
- and
- an ink supply mechanism constructed and arranged for applying ink to the stamps, the method comprising:
- conveying a board on a conveyor under the printer so that the length of the board is substantially aligned with a length of the printer;
- determining a desired stamp to be applied to the board;
- rotating the shaft to rotate the wheels to a starting location for applying the desired stamp;
- dropping the wheels down onto the board being conveyed for a time period sufficient for the wheels to rotate and apply the desired stamp to the board;
- and
- lifting the wheels off of the board when the desired stamp is applied to the board and before an undesired stamp is applied.
12 more elements
A planer mill comprising:
- a conveyor constructed and arranged for conveying boards transversely;
- a board positioning device constructed and arranged for determining a location of a board being conveyed on the conveyor;
- a trimmer in communication with the conveyor constructed and arranged for cutting boards into desired lengths;
- and
- a printer constructed and arranged for printing stamps on boards being conveyed on the conveyor, the printer comprising:
- a support constructed and arranged such that a length of the support is mounted over a width of the conveyor;
- a drive shaft rotatably mounted to the support, the drive shaft disposed in generally the direction of the length of the support;
- a plurality of arms movably connected to the drive shaft;
- at least one lift mechanism constructed and arranged for lifting and lowering at least one arm;
- at least one wheel rotatably mounted to at least one arm, the wheel having a plurality of stamps located around an outer surface of the wheel, and the wheel rotatably driven by rotation of the shaft;
- a drive mechanism constructed and arranged for rotating the drive shaft;
- a wheel position device constructed and arranged for determining a location of the stamps on the wheel;
- and
- an ink supply mechanism constructed and arranged for applying ink to the stamps.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.