Quadrant log feeder
OwnerClifford R. Stelterinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for sorting and separating logs allows logs to be fed individually for further processing. The log sorter has a rotating quadrant which is covered and has no gaps or apertures that allows logs or branches to become jammed. Furthermore, the rotating quadrant raises the logs above a first holding location. The apparatus includes a movable quadrant with a shelf at a top edge to support at least one log, the movable quadrant moves a log up to a second holding position over a fixed quadrant having radial fins extending through slots in the shelf of the movable quadrant so the fins push a log to the outside of the shelf as the movable quadrant raises it. A transfer feeder comprising a series of rotatable discs with aligned notches, transfers a log from the second holding position to an exit.
Claims12
An apparatus for separating logs of varying sizes and feeding logs individually, comprising:
- a first holding location for receiving logs;
- a movable quadrant having a shelf at a top edge to support at least one log, the movable quadrant having a curved peripheral surface;
- means to rotate the movable quadrant from an entry position adjacent the first holding location, adapted to accept at least one log from the first holding location, upwards to an exit position where a log leaves the shelf and moves to a second holding location;
- a fixed quadrant coaxial with and having a smaller radius than the movable quadrant, the fixed quadrant having a curved peripheral surface and positioned so the movable quadrant rotates and covers the fixed quadrant when moving from the entry position to the exit position;
- radial fins extending from the surface of the fixed quadrant having an increasing radius from bottom to top of the surface of the fixed quadrant;
- slots in the shelf of the movable quadrant for the radial fins to pass therethrough and retain one log on the shelf when the movable quadrant rotates to the exit position;
- in line rotatable discs having aligned notches therein positioned adjacent the second holding location to receive a log in the notches, and
- means to rotate the discs to transfer a log from within the notches in the discs to an exit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.