Rotary positioning fence
AssigneeU.S. Natural Resources, Inc.
InventorsGeoffrey D.H. Wight, Thomas W. Congdon, Tim Staal
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatuses for positioning boards and other wood pieces in preparation for sawing/trimming. In embodiments, a continuous track loop conveys board stops slideably mounted to board stop guides positioned perpendicular to the direction of flow. A horizontal frame member provides a series of positioning guides through which a cam follower coupled to a board stop is diverted, thus adjusting the position of board stops in a direction perpendicular to the direction of flow without the use of braking devices or other added sources of mass, friction or vibration.
Claims30
1-12. (canceled)
A positioning apparatus for use with a rotary fence, wherein the rotary fence includes a board stop assembly coupled with a continuous track loop, the continuous track loop is operable in a first direction of flow and the board stop assembly is movable relative to the continuous track loop in a second direction that is transverse to the first direction of flow, the positioning apparatus comprising:
- a positioning guide with guide surfaces configured to engage the board stop assembly, the guide surfaces including a lateral guide surface oriented transverse to the first direction and a plurality of longitudinal guide surfaces arranged at intervals along the lateral guide surface, the longitudinal guide surfaces defining a corresponding plurality of first lateral positions, wherein the positioning guide is operable to divert the board stop assembly from the lateral guide surface to a selected one of the longitudinal guide surfaces to position the board stop assembly at a corresponding one of the first lateral positions;
- and
- a shifting member coupled with a downstream end of the positioning guide, the shifting member configured to laterally displace a downstream end of the longitudinal guide surfaces to move the board stop assembly to a second lateral position between adjacent ones of said first lateral positions.
A method of positioning a board stop assembly of a rotary fence at a desired lateral position, wherein the rotary fence includes a continuous track loop operable in a first direction of flow and the board stop assembly is movable relative to the continuous track loop in a second direction that is transverse to the direction of flow, the method comprising:
- providing a guide apparatus with a lateral guide and a plurality of longitudinal guides arranged at intervals along the lateral guide, the lateral guide and the longitudinal guides configured to slideably engage the board stop assembly from an upstream end of the lateral guide to a downstream end of the longitudinal guides, wherein the intervals define corresponding first lateral positions;
- diverting the board stop assembly from the lateral guide to a selected one of the longitudinal guides to position the board stop assembly at the corresponding one of said first lateral positions;
- and
- laterally displacing a downstream end of the longitudinal guides to position the downstream end of the selected one of the longitudinal guides at the desired lateral position, wherein the desired lateral position is a second lateral position between adjacent ones of said first lateral positions.
A system for positioning a board on a conveyor, the system comprising:
- a continuous track loop operable in a first direction of flow;
- a board stop guide mounted to the continuous track loop;
- a board stop assembly slideably mounted to the board stop guide and movable along the board stop guide in a second direction generally perpendicular to the first direction;
- a positioning guide disposed in a plane generally parallel to the first direction and having a first engaging surface configured to slideably engage the board stop assembly, the first engaging surface extending transverse to the first direction;
- and
- a shift mechanism coupled with the positioning guide, the shift mechanism actuable to laterally reposition a downstream end of the positioning guide,
- wherein the positioning guide is configured to guide the board stop assembly to a selected one of a plurality of first lateral positions relative to the continuous track loop, and
- wherein the shift mechanism is operable to move the board stop assembly from the selected one of the plurality of first lateral positions to a desired lateral position relative to the conveyor.
A method of modifying a rotary positioning fence for positioning boards on a conveyor, wherein the rotary positioning fence has a continuous track loop operable in a direction of flow and a board stop assembly coupled with the continuous track loop, and the board stop assembly is movable relative to the continuous track loop in a second direction of flow that is transverse to, and substantially co-planar with, the first direction, the method comprising:
- providing a positioning guide in a plane generally parallel to the first and second direction, wherein the positioning guide has a first engaging surface oriented transverse to the first direction, the first engaging surface configured to slideably engage the board stop assembly;
- and
- coupling a shift mechanism with the positioning guide, the shift mechanism configured to laterally displace a downstream end of the positioning guide substantially within said plane,
- wherein the positioning guide is operable to guide the board stop assembly to a selected one of a plurality of first lateral positions relative to the continuous track loop, and
- wherein the shift mechanism is operable to move the board stop assembly from the selected one of the plurality of first lateral positions to a desired lateral position relative to the conveyor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.