# US 7,607,532 B2 · Workpiece support device

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- Number: US 7,607,532 B2
- Document ID: US7607532B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/732,290
- Filed: 2007-04-03
- Published: 2007-10-18
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-04-04
- Assignees: Homag Holzbearbeitungssysteme AG
- Inventors: Achim Gauss; Peter Rathgeber
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7607532B2

## CPC

- B23Q 3/002: {Means to press a workpiece against a guide}
- B27B 25/04: with feed chains or belts
- B27B 25/06: Resilient feeding or pressing accessories, e.g. pads, springs
- B27C 5/06: Arrangements for clamping or feeding work
- B27D 5/00: Other working of veneer or plywood specially adapted to veneer or plywood (working of strips in the same way as cane B27J {; repairing tears on veneer blanks B27D1/10; B27G1/00 takes precedence})
- B27F 1/02: Making tongues or grooves, of indefinite length
- B27M 1/08: by multi-step processes
- B65G 15/32: made of rubber or plastics
- B65G 21/209: {for augmenting or creating a pression force between the load and the load-carrying surface}
- B32B 37/1027: {Pressing using at least one press band}
- B32B 2037/1081: {using a magnetic force}
- B23Q: DETAILS, COMPONENTS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR MACHINE TOOLS, e.g. ARRANGEMENTS FOR COPYING OR CONTROLLING (tools of the kind used in lathes or boring machines B23B27/00); MACHINE TOOLS IN GENERAL CHARACTERISED BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF PARTICULAR DETAILS OR COMPONENTS; COMBINATIONS OR ASSOCIATIONS OF METAL-WORKING MACHINES, NOT DIRECTED TO A PARTICULAR RESULT
- B27B: SAWS FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; COMPONENTS OR ACCESSORIES THEREFOR (saws specially adapted for pruning or debranching A01G3/08; sawing apparatus specially adapted for felling trees A01G23/091; features not restricted to a particular type of wood saw B23D, e.g. attaching saw blades B23D51/00; machine tool frames, beds, pillars or like members, in general B23Q1/01)
- B27C: PLANING, DRILLING, MILLING, TURNING OR UNIVERSAL MACHINES FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL (machine tools in general B23; working wood using abrasive, e.g. sanding, devices B24; tools for these purposes B27G)
- B27D: WORKING VENEER OR PLYWOOD (applying liquids or other fluent materials to surface in general B05; grinding, sanding, or polishing of wood B24; applying adhesives or glue to surfaces of wood B27G11/00; manufacture of veneer B27L5/00)
- B27F: DOVETAILED WORK; TENONS; SLOTTING MACHINES FOR WOOD OR SIMILAR MATERIAL; NAILING OR STAPLING MACHINES (hand-held nailing or stapling tools B25C; manufacture of cases, trunks or boxes from wood B27M3/34; connections for building structures in general, e.g. dowels for use in building constructions E04B1/38; jointing elements in general, e.g. dowels in general, F16B {; manufacture of long strips or planks by bonding together pieces of wood, e.g. by glueing, B27M3/0013})
- B27M: WORKING OF WOOD NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES B27B - B27L; MANUFACTURE OF SPECIFIC WOODEN ARTICLES
- B65G: TRANSPORT OR STORAGE DEVICES, e.g. CONVEYORS FOR LOADING OR TIPPING, SHOP CONVEYOR SYSTEMS OR PNEUMATIC TUBE CONVEYORS (packaging B65B; handling thin or filamentary materials, e.g. paper sheets or thread, B65H; cranes B66C; portable mobile or lifting or hauling appliances, e.g. hoists, B66D; devices for lifting or lowering goods for loading or unloading purposes, e.g. fork-lift trucks, B66F9/00; emptying bottles, jars, casks, barrels or similar containers, not otherwise provided for, B67C9/00; delivering or transferring liquids B67D; filling or discharging vessels for liquefied, solidified or compressed gases F17C; pipe-line systems for fluids F17D)
- B32B: LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM

## Abstract

The invention relates to a workpiece support device (10) for a continuously operating machine (1) for machining panel-shaped workpieces that are preferably made, at least in part, of wood, wood materials, or the like, the workpiece support device comprising at least one endlessly revolving belt (20) that is designed to support conveyed workpieces (2) at least sectionally, further comprising a stationary guide member (12) for the belt (20), the guide member having two deflection components (14) on which the belt is deflected. The workpiece support device in accordance with the invention is characterized in that the belt (20) comprises a plurality of layers extending in the belt's longitudinal direction, at least one of the layers being designed as a flexible layer which, at least in the belt's transverse direction, is less rigid than at least one of the other layers.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A continuously operating machine for machining panel-shaped workpieces that are preferably made, at least in part, of wood or wood materials, said continuously operating machine comprising:
at least one endlessly revolving belt designed to support conveyed workpieces at least sectionally, and
a stationary guide member for said belt, said guide member having at least two deflection components on which said belt is deflected, and
wherein said belt has a plurality of layers extending in the belt's longitudinal direction, at least one of said layers being designed as a flexible layer which, at least in the belt's transverse direction, is less rigid than at least one of the other layers,
a conveyor having an endlessly revolving conveying member or a sliding surface, a conveying gap for holding and conveying said panel-shaped workpieces being formed between said endlessly revolving conveying member or said sliding surface and the belt, and
wherein at least one machine tool or machining assembly is arranged in the region of said conveying gap.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The continuously operating machine in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said at least one flexible layer comprises a foamed material, preferably a foamed plastic material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The continuously operating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one flexible layer is thicker than said other layers.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The continuously operating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said belt comprises at least one cover layer, or a casting skin.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The continuously operating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said belt comprises at least one base belt made of a material reinforced with cords in the belt's longitudinal direction, said belt being made in particular of a rubber material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The continuously operating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said guide member comprises a guide rail having a groove that offers form-locked adaptation to the respective belt, said groove having a base in which are arranged air outlet openings that can communicate with a compressed-air source.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The continuously operating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises a conveying member that is guided, at least sectionally, on an air cushion.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The continuously operating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises a conveying member that is guided, at least sectionally, as a result of magnetic forces.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The continuously operating machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein said conveyor comprises a sliding surface in which air outlet openings are arranged at least sectionally, it being possible to drive said belt of said workpiece support device.

### Claim 10

A workpiece support device for a continuously operating machine for machining panel-shaped workpieces, said workpiece support device comprising:
at least one endlessly revolving belt designed to support at least a portion of said conveyed workpieces, and
a stationary guide member, said guide member having at least two deflection components on which said belt is deflected,
wherein said belt has first and third opposing layers with a second layer disposed between said first and third layers, wherein said second layer is less rigid than at least one of the other layers.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The workpiece support device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said second layer comprises a foamed material.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The workpiece support device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said second layer is thicker than said other layers.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The workpiece support device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said first layer is a base belt made of a material reinforced with cords extending in the belt's longitudinal direction, said belt being made of a rubber material.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The workpiece support device in accordance with claim 10, wherein said guide member comprises a guide rail having a groove that provides a form-locked adaptation to said belt, said groove having a base including air outlet openings in communication with a compressed-air source.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The workpiece support device in accordance with claim 10, further comprising an endlessly revolving conveying member, a conveying gap for holding and conveying said panel-shaped workpieces being formed between said endlessly revolving conveying member and said belt.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The workpiece support device in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said conveying member is guided on an air cushion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The workpiece support device in accordance with claim 15, wherein at least a portion of said conveying member is guided by magnetic forces.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The workpiece support device in accordance with claim 15, wherein said conveying member includes a sliding surface in which air outlet openings are arranged to drive said belt of said workpiece support device.