US 6,474,579 B1Granted

Wood processing systems and methods of constructing and using them

AssigneeMorbark, Inc.

InventorsGary M. Bardos, Michael L. Hockstra

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Abstract

A generally horizontal wood comminuter has a crosswise rotor with comminuting knives moving in a path of rotation and a crosswise coacting anvil. A feed works provides a material support surface and a power-driven feed member above it for feeding material toward the rotor. The rotor is driven in an uphill path of rotation relative to the feed works. Lift arms pivoted rearwardly of the feed works pivotally carry the feed member for swinging vertical movement toward and away from the material support surface. A crosswise deflector plate is carried independently of the lift arms and extends toward the anvil and a crosswise lift arm plate coacts with the deflector plate to contain fragmented material. The anvil and a grate retainer preferably are pivotal to move together from an operative to an inoperative position.

Claims14

Dependent claims

In a generally horizontal wood material comminuting machine comprising:

a. a generally longitudinally disposed frame with front and rear ends and spaced apart side walls;
b. a crosswisely extending rotatably mounted rotor shaft on said frame mounting a rotor having a periphery comprising comminuting members moving in a path of rotation;
c. a crosswisely extending anvil carried on said frame above said rotor shaft outwardly of said periphery to coact with said comminuting members in reducing said material;
d. a feed works connected with said frame forwardly of said rotor including a material support surface on which said material is supported and a powerdriven feed member having a generally horizontal axis extending generally parallel to said rotor axis mounted above said support surface for feeding said material toward said rotor;
e. a drive for moving said rotor shaft and rotor in an uphill path of rotation upwardly relative to said material support surface;
and
f. lift arms pivoted on said frame rearwardly of said feed member pivotally carrying said feed member for swinging vertical movement toward and away from said material support surface;
the improvement comprising in combination:
g. a material deflector plate carried on said frame independently of said lift arms to substantially crosswisely span said rotor extending from a forward edge rearwardly toward said anvil to deflect material comminuted by said comminuting members traveling in said uphill path of rotation toward said anvil;
and
h. a crosswisely disposed lift arm plate, carried on said arms to move relatively upwardly and downwardly with respect to said deflector plate, having a downwardly curving surface coacting with said deflector plate to prevent fragmented material from flying past said forward edge of said deflector plate.

8 more elements

A method of constructing a generally horizontal wood material comminuting machine having a generally longitudinally extending frame with spaced apart side walls having front and rear ends, a transversely extending rotatably mounted rotor shaft mounting a rotor having a peripheral surface comprising comminuting members movable with said rotor in a path of rotation, a transversely extending anvil mounted above said rotor shaft to coact with said comminuting members in reducing said material, a feed works connected with said frame in front of said rotor including a conveying surface on which said material is supported and a power-driven feed roll having a generally horizontal axis extending generally parallel to said rotor axis movably mounted above said conveyor surface for feeding said material toward said rotor, a drive for moving said rotor shaft and rotor in an uphill path of rotation upwardly relative to said conveyor support surface, mechanism mounting said roll member for vertical movement toward and away from said conveyor support surface, the method incorporating:

a. mounting a material deflector plate having a forward edge on said frame to extend toward said anvil and substantially crosswisely span said rotor to deflect material comminuted by said comminuting members traveling in said uphill path of rotation;
and
b. mounting a bridging plate on said mechanism mounting said roll to move vertically therewith configured to coact with said deflector plate to prevent fragmented material from flying past said deflector plate and bridging plate.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.