Blade tensioning mechanism

Abstract

A tensioning member for a blade screen that permits simultaneous tensioning of a plurality of blades in a blade screen, such as for wood chip sorting, is shown. The blade screen tensioning member includes a hinged bracket that may be supported on a portion of a frame, a spring steel blade holder for engaging a press-snap inserted into a hole in each of the engaged blades, and an elastic stop nut and stud for tightening and tensioning the blades. The blades are held in place at the opposite end of the frame by a similar holder, which, however, is fixed rather than hinged. The spring steel blade holder is reinforced for additional strength, and is bent at an approximately 45 degree angle where the press-snap is engaged. The blades themselves may also be provided with a sawtooth detail on a bottom edge to reduce the build-up of wood ribbons or fines that would otherwise occur. A sliding bearing with a dovetail configuration is also provided. This sliding bearing allows a dual-frame blade screen to be assembled, while compensating for any phase angle error between eccenters provided to agitate the wood chips by moving the screens.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.