US 4,359,304 A · Board separator · patentgrep

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Abstract

A board separator apparatus includes an input conveyor for longitudinally feeding groups of vertically positioned boards into a transfer box which is pivoted to transfer the boards downwardly into board receiving mechanism including an elevator. The transfer box is provided with parallel walls which are relatively movable in accordance with the number and size of boards in a group. The board receiving mechanism comprises an extension of the parallel walls of the transfer box in their unloaded position, said board receiving mechanism having separator arms against which the side of a group of boards is received, and a gate extending downwardly in parallel juxtaposition to the separator arms, initially substantially closing off the board receiving mechanism. The gate further comprises a plurality of piston operated stops mounted for movement toward the separator arms for urging boards of a group into alignment. The separator arms are then rotated outwardly causing the individual boards of a group to pass one at a time over an edge and down a ramp onto an output conveyor for horizontally transporting the boards.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Board separating apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a group of boards on edge, said means including separator means against which the side of said group of boards is received in upstanding relation, said separator means comprising means for moving said group of boards in a lateral direction across a discontinuous supporting surface, and one by one off said surface, such that said boards successively drop away from the remainder of the boards of said group,
means for urging said group of boards against said separator means, including energizing means for imparting positive motion to said urging means in a direction toward said separator means for mutually aligning the boards of said group prior to separation, said urging means being upraised after aligning said boards leaving said boards free on their forward side to be moved off said discontinuous surface,
and a horizontal conveyor for receiving said boards wherein said boards are angularly disposed in passing from said discontinuous surface and fall onto said conveyor with a horizontal orientation.

Board separating apparatus comprising:

an input conveyor for conveying boards in groups, each group including a plurality of boards on edge,
a transfer box having a lower opening and being movable in a horizontal direction for urging said group of boards off the conveyor,
means below said transfer box for receiving the groups of boards from the lower opening of the transfer box, the last mentioned means having a lower discontinuous surface for supporting the edges of the boards and separator means against which the side of a group of boards is received, said separator means comprising rearward means for moving said group of boards in a lateral direction across said discontinuous surface, and one by one off said surface, such that said boards successively drop away from the remainder of the boards of a group, said separator means having an angular orientation, and forward gate means for initially substantially closing off said means for receiving boards, wherein said gate means opens on the forward side of said means for receiving boards as said rearward means moves boards off said discontinuous surface, said gate means comprising means for urging said group of boards against said separator means, including energizing means for imparting positive motion to said urging means in a direction toward said separator means for mutually aligning the boards of said group prior to separation,
and a horizontal off-bearing conveyor for receiving said boards in succession, said boards retaining an angular orientation as they leave said discontinuous surface to fall onto said conveyor in a horizontal position.

1 more element

Board separating apparatus comprising:

an input conveyor for conveying boards in groups, each group including a plurality of boards on edge,
a transfer box having a lower opening and being movable in a horizontal direction for urging said group of boards off the conveyor, said transfer box comprising a pair of substantially parallel walls, one of said walls being movable with respect to the other for receiving a variable number and size of said boards, and including means for moving said movable wall in parallel relation to the remaining wall in accordance with the number and size of boards to be received,
means below said transfer box for receiving the groups of boards from the lower opening of the transfer box, the last mentioned means having a lower discontinuous surface for supporting the edges of the boards and separator means against which the side of a group of boards is received, said separator means comprising means for moving said group of boards in a lateral direction across said discontinuous surface, and one by one off said surface, such that said boards successively drop away from the remainder of the boards of a group, said separator means having an angular orientation,
means for urging said group of boards against said separator means, including energizing means for imparting positive motion to said urging means in a direction toward said separator means for mutually aligning the boards of said group prior to separation,
and a horizontal off-bearing conveyor for receiving said boards in succession, said boards retaining an angular orientation as they leave said discontinuous surface to fall onto said conveyor in a horizontal position.

2 more elements

Board separating apparatus comprising:

an input conveyor for conveying boards in groups, each group including a plurality of boards on edge,
a transfer box having a lower opening and being movable in a horizontal direction for urging said group of boards off the conveyor, said transfer box comprising a pair of substantially parallel walls, one of said walls being movable with respect to the other for receiving a variable number and size of said boards, and including means for moving said movable wall in accordance with the number and size of boards to be received,
wherein said means for moving said movable wall comprises a plurality of rods joined to said movable wall and extending in the direction of the remaining wall, a plurality of channels secured to said remaining wall and receiving said rods, and means for sliding said rods relative to said channels for moving said movable wall toward and away from the remaining wall,
means below said transfer box for receiving the groups of boards from the lower opening of the transfer box, the last mentioned means having a lower discontinuous surface for supporting the edges of the boards and separator means against which the side of a group of boards is received, said separator means comprising means for moving said group of boards in a lateral direction across said discontinuous surface, and one by one off said surface, such that said boards successively drop away from the remainder of the boards of a group, said separator means having an angular orientation,
means for urging said group of boards against said separator means, including energizing means for imparting positive motion to said urging means in a direction toward said separator means for mutually aligning the boards of said group prior to separation,
and a horizontal off-bearing conveyor for receiving said boards in succession, said boards retaining an angular orientation as they leave said discontinuous surface to fall onto said conveyor in a horizontal position.

3 more elements

Board separating apparatus comprising:

an input conveyor for conveying boards in groups, each group including a plurality of boards on edge,
a transfer box having a lower opening and being movable in a horizontal direction for urging said group of boards off the conveyor,
means below said transfer box for receiving the group of boards from the lower opening of the transfer box, the last mentioned means having a lower discontinuous surface for supporting the edges of the boards and separator means against which the side of a group of boards is received, said separator means comprising means for moving said group of boards in a lateral direction across said discontinuous surface, and one by one off said surface, such that said boards successively drop away from the remainder of the boards of a group, said separator means having an angular orientation and comprising a pivotable separator arm,
means for urging said group of boards against said separator means including energizing means for imparting positive motion to said urging means in a direction toward said separator means for mutually aligning the boards of said group prior to separation, said urging means comprising a pivotable gate movable in substantially parallel relation to said separator arm and a plurality of piston operated stops mounted relative to said gate for movement toward said separator arm for urging said boards together and aligning the same for proper separation,
and a horizontal off-bearing conveyor for receiving said boards in succession, said boards retaining an angular orientation as they leave said discontinuous surface to fall onto said conveyor in a horizontal position.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.