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.
Claims12
A rotating fence for locating boards, comprising:
- a length of continuous track loop operable in a first direction of flow along its length and configured to convey one or more board stop guides in said first direction;
- a lateral structure generally disposed in a plane generally parallel to the first direction of flow, and including:
- a lateral positioning guide extending across at least a portion of the lateral structure at an angle oblique to the first direction of flow,
- a plurality of longitudinal guides extending from the lateral positioning guide generally in the direction of flow, the longitudinal guides being spaced at intervals along at least a portion of the length of the lateral positioning guide, and
- a guide selector positioned at one or more of said intervals, the guide selector movable from a first position wherein the longitudinal guide at said interval is blocked to a second position wherein the lateral positioning guide is blocked;
- and
- a board stop assembly comprising a board stop and a cam follower, the cam follower being configured to selectively engage the lateral positioning guide and said longitudinal guides.
A board stop positioning guide used on rotary fence devices, comprising:
- a lateral positioning guide disposed at an angle oblique to a direction of board flow;
- a plurality of longitudinal positioning guides extending from the lateral positioning guide, the longitudinal positioning guides extending generally in the direction of board flow;
- and
- a guide selector configured to block the lateral positioning guide in a first position and to block a longitudinal positioning guide in a second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.