US 2018/0346263 A1Published application

Bottom Up Lumber Stacker

OwnerMarlin J. Hurstinventor

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Abstract

A lumber stacking machine has a stacking mechanism forming a stack of lumber from the bottom upwardly. The stacking mechanism includes a lift mechanism formed with a plurality of stacking fingers that lift a layer of lumber vertically above a conveyor. With the formation of a new layer of lumber, the stacking mechanism moves below the new layer with the stacking fingers retracting to pass by the new layer and resting the growing stack of lumber on top of the new layer, and then extending below the new layer to raise the entire stack to allow another new layer to be formed. Stops are provided to control the movement of the individual boards from the infeed station into the stacking station and also to control movement of the new layer beyond the stacking station. Two conveyors cooperate to move the lumber with an overlap in the stacking station.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A stacking machine comprising:

an infeed station for receiving a supply of product consisting of individual product units to be configured into a stack of product, said infeed station including a first conveyor run that moves the individual product units linearly;
a stacking station positioned to receive the individual product units and form said stack of product, said first conveyor run extending into said stacking station;
a pair of opposing stacking members positioned in said stacking station on opposing sides of said first conveyor run, each said stacking member including:
a vertically movable stack holder having laterally movable stacking fingers selectively movable into engagement with said individual product units;
a drive mechanism for powering the vertical movement of said stack holders and for powering the lateral movement of said stacking fingers, said drive mechanism being operable to project said stacking fingers beneath said individual product units and cause a vertical movement of said individual product units with the vertical movement of said stack holders, and being operable to retract said stacking fingers from engagement with said individual product units when said drive mechanism lowers said stack holders toward said first conveyor run so that said stacking fingers can be extended beneath a new layer of individual product units delivered to said stacking area while said stack holders were in an uppermost position;
and
a staging station to receive a completed product stack from said stacking station, said staging station having a second conveyor run extending from said stacking station into said staging station and being selectively operable to convey a completed stack into said staging station.

4 more elements

A lumber stacking machine comprising:

an infeed station, a stacking station and a staging station;
a first conveyor operable to move individual pieces of lumber from said infeed station into said stacking station;
a second conveyor operable to move a stack of lumber from said stacking station to said staging station, said first and second conveyors overlapping in said stacking station;
and
a stacking mechanism operable in said stacking station to form said stack of lumber from layers of individual pieces of lumber conveyed into said stacking station, said stacking mechanism being operable to elevate a newly formed layer of lumber into a stack of lumber vertically elevated above said stacking station such that said stack of lumber is formed from the bottom side until completed so that said second conveyor can transport said completed stack of lumber to said staging station.

2 more elements

A lumber stacking machine comprising:

an infeed station having a first conveyor operable to move individual pieces of lumber along a path of movement;
a stacking station in which said first conveyor terminates so as to deliver said individual pieces of lumber from said infeed station to form a layer of lumber within said stacking station, said stacking station supporting the beginning of a second conveyor operable to move a completed stack of lumber from said stacking station, said first and second conveyors overlapping in said stacking station, said stacking station further having a pair of opposing stacking members operable to hold a partially formed stack of lumber vertically above said stacking station while said layer of lumber is being formed, and to move a completed layer of lumber to the bottom of said partially formed stack of lumber to create a completed stack of lumber;
and
a staging station supporting a terminus of said second conveyor to receive said completed stack of lumber from said stacking station.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 15/995,840Filed 1 Jun 2018
Priority: 2 Jun 2017
Published: 6 Dec 2018
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

B65G 57/302
By means of reciprocatory or oscillatory lifting and holding or gripping devices: added articles being lifted to substantially stationary grippers…
B65G 57/18
Stacking of articles of particular shape: elongated, e.g. sticks, rods, bars
B65G 57/308
By means of rotary devices or endless elements: by means of endless elements
B65G 59/063
By means of reciprocating or oscillating escapement-like mechanisms: comprising lifting means