Veneer transporting apparatus
AssigneeSweed Machinery, Inc.
InventorsChris J. Salyer, Tyler W. Casebeer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for transporting veneer sheets, where the veneer sheets each have an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of edges connecting the upper surface to the lower surface. The apparatus includes a vacuum source and a conveyor for transporting individual sheets of veneer along a direction of travel to a predetermined location. The conveyor includes a belt running in the direction of travel. A vacuum opening adjacent the belt is in communication with the vacuum source to draw respective sheets of veneer to the belt by suction applied to the upper surface or the lower surface of the veneer sheets via the vacuum opening. The position of the conveyor is adjustable in a direction transverse the direction of travel to accommodate veneer sheets having different lengths.
Claims19
An apparatus for transporting veneer sheets, the veneer sheets each having an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge, and two side edges extending longitudinally between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the apparatus comprising:
- a vacuum source, and
- a conveyor for transporting individual sheets of veneer along a direction of travel to a predetermined location,
- wherein the conveyor comprises:
- a belt running in the direction of travel,
- a vacuum opening adjacent the belt that is in communication with the vacuum source to draw respective sheets of veneer to the belt by suction applied to the upper surface of the veneer sheets via the vacuum opening, and
- at least one knockdown configured to separate a transported veneer sheet from the belt while the vacuum source is drawing the transported veneer sheet to the belt, the at least one knockdown including:
- a knockdown shoe, and
- a knockdown actuator configured to drive the knockdown shoe into the path of the transported veneer sheet in a direction away from the vacuum opening,
- wherein the position of the conveyor is adjustable in a direction transverse the direction of travel.
An apparatus for transporting veneer sheets, the veneer sheets each having an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge, and two side edges extending longitudinally between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the apparatus comprising
- a conveyor for transporting individual sheets of veneer along a direction of travel to a predetermined location,
- wherein the conveyor comprises:
- a belt running in the direction of travel,
- a vacuum source,
- a vacuum opening adjacent the belt that is in communication with the vacuum source to draw respective sheets of veneer to the belt by suction applied to the upper surface of the veneer sheets via the vacuum opening, and
- at least one knockdown configured to separate a transported veneer sheet from the belt while the vacuum source is drawing the transported veneer sheet to the belt, the at least one knockdown including:
- a knockdown shoe, and
- a knockdown actuator configured to drive the knockdown shoe into the path of the transported vender sheet in a direction away from the vacuum opening,
- wherein the position of the conveyor is adjustable in a direction transverse the direction of travel.
An apparatus for transporting veneer sheets, the veneer sheets each having an upper surface, a lower surface, a leading edge, a trailing edge, and two side edges extending longitudinally between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the apparatus comprising a pair of conveyors for transporting individual sheets of veneer along a direction of travel to a predetermined location,
- wherein each of the pair of conveyors comprises:
- a belt running in the direction of travel,
- a vacuum source,
- a vacuum opening adjacent the belt that is in communication with the vacuum source to draw respective sheets of veneer to the belt by suction applied to the upper surface of the veneer sheets via the vacuum opening, and
- as least one knockdown configured to separate a transported veneer sheet from the belt while the vacuum source is drawing the transported veneer sheet to the belt, the at least one knockdown including:
- a knockdown shoe, and
- a knockdown actuator configured to drive the knockdown shoe into the path of the transported veneer sheet in a direction away from the vacuum opening,
- wherein the position of at least one of the pair of conveyors is adjustable in a direction transverse the direction of travel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.