Wood veneer clipper infeed conveyor retractable holddown mechanism
AssigneeElliott Bay Plywood Machines Co.
InventorsVincent M. Rock, Arne R. Severinsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A retractable holddown mechanism for veneer clipper infeed conveyors comprising a novel means to control the action of retractable holddown bars that yieldably clamp the veneer flat against conveyor belts during normal operation and that, in the event of an obstruction at the clipper entrance, are caused to retract in a programmed motion that first provides relief allowing the veneer to pile up for a short time with reduced tendency to break up where it accumulates most rapidly, and that thereafter clears the conveyor for removal of the jammed veneer with minimum difficulty.
Claims10
In combination with belt conveyor means operable to support and feed wood veneer in a generally horizontal plane through a veneer clipper, a plurality of elongated transversely spaced veneer holddown bars mounted above the conveyor means in parallel relationship in positions abreast of each other to engage and flatten the veneer under conveyance as it enters the clipper,
- yieldable reversible actuator means operatively connected to the respective bars intermediate the ends thereof and selectively operable to move the bars into such holddown engagement with the veneer and retractively therefrom in paths lying in parallel vertical planes extending in the direction of feed, and when in such holddown engagement with the veneer to urge such bars yieldably against the veneer, and
- operatively associated guide means connected to said bars further controlling such motion of the bars to include a vertical component of motion and also a component of motion parallel to the direction of veneer feed, the latter component of motion during bar retraction being directed opposite the direction of veneer feed,
- said actuator means and guide means cooperatively programming the retraction motion of the bars with the trailing ends thereof adjacent the clipper substantially executing the vertical component of retraction before the opposite or leading ends of such bars undergo substantial retraction motion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.