Apparatus and method for perforating beams
AssigneeBois D'IngéNierie Hybrid Joist Inc.
InventorsJean-Francois Lachance, Benoit Maille, Pierre Martel, Steeve Lepine
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Abstract
This invention concerns an apparatus and method for perforating a beam. The apparatus comprises a main longitudinal support structure to support the beam. A cutting zone is located along the main longitudinal support structure. Controllable translating means translate the beam longitudinally in the cutting zone. A detector detects a presence of the beam in the cutting zone and in response, a router is controllably moved substantially orthogonally and transversally with respect to the beam, while the beam is translated. The combined controlled movement of the router and the beam results in a perforation of the beam following a predetermined perforation pattern.
Claims20
A cutting apparatus for perforating beams, each of said beams having two longitudinal edges delimiting a body portion, said cutting apparatus comprising:
- a main longitudinal support structure;
- a cutting zone located along the main longitudinal support structure;
- a controllable conveying assembly comprising at least one conveying belt located in the cutting zone, supporting and translating the beams one after the other longitudinally along a conveying direction, at a translation speed;
- a detector to detect a presence of a beam in the cutting zone and to generate a detecting signal accordingly;
- a pair of longitudinal bars provided with rotatable free wheels, the longitudinal bars being aligned with the longitudinal edges of the beams, the rotatable free wheels pressing the longitudinal edges of the beam against the at least one conveying belt;
- a controllable router, the router being located in the cutting zone, said router being controllably movable substantially orthogonally and transversally with respect to the beam;
- and
- a controller including a hard disk for storing a predetermined perforation pattern, the controller being operatively connected to the conveying assembly, the detector and the router, the controller having an input for receiving the detecting signal and outputs for sending control signals to:
- the at least one conveying belt, to control the translation speed;
- and
- the router, to move the router closer or away from the beam, or to transversally translate the router;
- and thereby perforate the body portion of the beam following the predetermined perforation pattern.
A cutting apparatus for perforating wooden beams with an I-shape cross-section, each of said beams having two longitudinal flanges interconnected by a central web, said cutting apparatus comprising:
- a main longitudinal support structure;
- a cutting zone located along the main longitudinal support structure;
- a controllable conveying assembly comprising at least one conveying belt located in the cutting zone, supporting and translating the beams one after the other longitudinally along a conveying direction, at a translation speed;
- a detector to detect a presence of a beam in the cutting zone and generate a detecting signal accordingly;
- a pair of longitudinal bars provided with rotatable free wheels, the longitudinal bars being aligned with the flanges of the beams, the rotatable free wheels pressing the flanges of the beam against the at least one conveying belt;
- a controllable router, the router being located in the cutting zone, said router being controllably movable substantially orthogonally and transversally with respect to the beam;
- and
- a controller including a hard disk for storing a predetermined perforation pattern, the controller being operatively connected to the conveying assembly, the detector and the router, the controller having an input for receiving the detecting signal and outputs for sending control signals to:
- the at least one conveying belt, to control the translation speed;
- the pair of longitudinal bars, to press or free the flanges of the beam;
- and
- the router, to move the router closer or away from the beam, or to transversally translate the router;
- and thereby perforate the web of the beam following the predetermined perforation pattern.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.