US 2018/0001508 A1Published application

Lumber Retrieval System for a Centrally Located Saw

AssigneeAcer Incorporated

InventorSteven L. Aylsworth

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Abstract

Lumber retrieval systems and methods feed a centrally located saw with a predetermined assortment of boards picked from certain stations distributed at either side of the saw. In some examples, an overhead trolley system carries individual boards in a certain sequence from chosen stations to a board-receiving apparatus. The board-receiving apparatus, in turn, feeds the boards to the saw. The saw then cuts the boards into board segments, which can be used for making prefabricated trusses and wall panels. In some examples, the trolley system has a laser-scanning feature for determining the location of the next-to-pick board while simultaneously transporting the board currently heading to the board-receiving apparatus. In some examples, the trolley system includes two board carriers each of which are dedicated or assigned to certain stations. In some examples, one carrier serves as backup for the other one when one of the carriers is broken or otherwise inactive.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A lumber retrieval system comprising:

a saw;
a plurality of boards including at least a first board, a second board and a third board;
wherein the first board, the second board and the third board are of different sizes;
a first station, a second station and a third station initially storing the plurality of boards, wherein the first board is initially at the first station, the second board is initially at the second station, and the third board is initially at the third station;
a board-receiving apparatus between the first station and the third station, the first station being between the board-receiving apparatus and the second station;
a trolley system extending over the first station, over the second station, over the third station and over the board-receiving apparatus;
a first board path defined by the trolley system, the first board path extending in a forward direction from the first station to the board-receiving apparatus;
a second board defined by the trolley system, the second board path extending in a forward direction from the second station, over the first station and to the board-receiving apparatus;
a third board path defined by the trolley system, the third board path extending in a reverse direction from the third station to the board-receiving apparatus, wherein the reverse direction is opposite of the forward direction;
and
a saw-feeding path defined by the board-receiving apparatus, the saw-feeding path extending from the board-receiving apparatus to the saw, wherein the saw-feeding path is substantially perpendicular to the first board path, the second board path and the third board path.

8 more elements

A lumber retrieval method for retrieving a first board, a second board and a third board of a plurality of boards of various sizes from a first station, a second station and a third station, and for transferring the first board, the second board and the third board to a board-receiving apparatus that leads to a saw, the lumber retrieval method comprising:

lifting the first board from the first station;
suspending the first board from a trolley system;
transferring the first board in a forward direction from the first station to the board-receiving apparatus;
transferring the first board from the board-receiving apparatus to the saw;
cutting the first board with the saw;
lifting the second board from the second station;
suspending the second board from the trolley system;
transferring the second board in the forward direction from the second station, over the first station, and to the board-receiving apparatus;
transferring the second board from the board-receiving apparatus to the saw;
cutting the second board with the saw;
lifting the third board from the third station;
suspending the third board from the trolley system;
transferring the third board in a reverse direction from the third station to the board-receiving apparatus, wherein the reverse direction is substantially opposite of the forward direction;
transferring the third board from the board-receiving apparatus to the saw;
and
cutting the third board with the saw.

13 more elements

lifting the first board from the first station;
suspending the first board from a trolley system;
transferring the first board in a forward direction from the first station to the board-receiving apparatus;
moving the first board in a predetermined direction while transferring the first board from the board-receiving apparatus to the saw, wherein the predetermined direction is substantially perpendicular to the forward direction;
creating a first board segment by cutting the first board with the saw;
lifting the second board from the second station;
suspending the second board from the trolley system;
transferring the second board in the forward direction from the second station, over the first station, and to the board-receiving apparatus;
moving the second board in the predetermined direction while transferring the second board from the board-receiving apparatus to the saw;
creating a second board segment by cutting the second board with the saw;
lifting the third board from the third station;
suspending the third board from the trolley system;
transferring the third board in a reverse direction from the third station to the board-receiving apparatus, wherein the reverse direction is substantially opposite of the forward direction;
moving the third board in the predetermined direction while transferring the third board from the board-receiving apparatus to the saw;
creating a third board segment by cutting the third board with the saw;
and
assembling selectively a first board assembly and a second board assembly, wherein the first board assembly includes at least part of the first board and at least part of the second board but excludes the third board, and the second board assembly includes at least part of the first board and at least part of the third board but excludes the second board.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/699,918Filed 8 Sep 2017
Priority: 2 Sep 2010
Published: 4 Jan 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

B27B 31/00
Arrangements for conveying, loading, turning, adjusting, or discharging the log or timber
B23Q 7/04
Arrangements for handling work specially combined with or arranged in, or specially adapted for use in connection with, machine tools, e.g. for…:…
B25J 9/026
Cartesian coordinate type: gantry-type
B25J 15/0052
Gripping heads and other end effectors: multiple gripper units or multiple end effectors

Family

Application61/402,654Us provisional application · filed 2 Sep 2010
Application13/136,922Division · filed 15 Aug 2011
Application14/577,779Continuation in part · filed 19 Dec 2014
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Application15/486,228Continuation in part · filed 12 Apr 2017
Application15/645,318Continuation in part · filed 10 Jul 2017
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