Lathe charger

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus, that is, a lathe charger, for automatically supplying raw wood to a veneer lathe such that the cutting center of the raw wood is determined so that the cutting center of the raw wood and the axis of a spindle of the veneer lathe coincide with each other.

2. Related Background Art

Hitherto, a method and an apparatus for centering raw wood have been disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 4-60001. The method of centering raw wood comprises the steps of: rotating raw wood about a temporary center by a holding claw disposed at a limit of rearward movement of the raw wood to wait for raw wood; detecting the profiles of cross sections of a plurality of portions in the lengthwise direction of the raw wood so that the coordinates of the axis of the overall body of the raw wood are obtained; forwards moving the holding claw in accordance with the coordinates so that the position of the raw wood in the direction of the X axis is corrected; downwards moving a conveying claw so that the position of the raw wood in the direction of the Y axis is corrected; and changing the claw for holding the raw wood from the holding claw to the conveying claw. The apparatus for centering raw wood comprises: an X-axis correction unit which permits a pair of bearing boxes to move horizontally between frames which are stood erect; spindles each having a holding claw at an end thereof and a rotational-angle sensor and slidably inserted into the pair of the bearing boxes; a mobile unit made to be movable such that the mobile unit is guided by a horizontal beam; conveying claws permitted to be moved upwards/downwards by a Y-axis correction unit and suspended from two sides of the mobile unit: and a displacement-amount sensor provided for the base end of each of a plurality of swingable arms disposed at arbitrary intervals in a lengthwise direction of the raw wood and connected by a pin, wherein an output of an amount of correction of the forward movement of the bearing box is produced to the X-axis correction unit and an output of an amount of correction of the downward movement of the conveying claw is produced to the Y-axis correction unit in accordance with the coordinates of the total axis obtained from data of each of the rotational-angle sensor and the displacement-amount sensor.

The above-mentioned conventional technology, however, suffers from the following problem: the X-axis correction unit must have the structure that both of the pair of the bearing boxes are made to be movable individually in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the manufacturing cost of the apparatus cannot be reduced and the structure becomes too complicated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lathe charger which is capable of correcting positions in the directions of X and Y axes with a simple structure and having an automated centering process using a centering spindle and holding and conveying processes using a holding arm.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lathe charger comprising: a pair of centering spindles for holding end surfaces of raw wood; centering means for automatically calculating cutting centers of the two end surfaces of the raw wood held by the pair of the centering spindles; a pair of holding arms for holding the raw wood in place of the pair of the spindles; and means for moving the holding arms in such a manner as to move the pair of holding arms between the centering spindles and spindles of a veneer lathe for an arbitrary distance, wherein the pair of the holding arms can be extended/contracted and one of the pair of the centering spindles is structured to be capable of moving in a direction which intersects a direction in which the pair of the holding arms are extended/contracted, and a control mechanism is provided with which when one of the end surfaces is viewed in parallel with the axis of the centering spindles in a state in which the raw wood having cutting centers of the two end surfaces which have been calculated is held, one of the centering spindles structured to be capable of moving is moved until an imaginary straight line passing through the two coincident cutting centers is made to be in parallel with the direction in which the holding arms are extended/contracted at the position at which the holding arms hold the raw wood, members for holding the raw wood are changed from the centering spindles to the holding arms at the position to which the centering spindle has been moved, and the holding arms are extended/contracted and the holding arms are moved to the spindles of the veneer lathe by the means for moving the holding arms so that the two cutting centers and the axes of the spindles of the veneer lathe are made coincide with each other.

The imaginary straight line passing through the two coincident cutting centers when one of the end surfaces is viewed in parallel with the axis of the centering spindles will now be described. When one of the end surfaces is viewed at an angle in parallel with the axis of the centering spindles, the imaginary straight line is a straight line obtained by connecting a visible cutting center and a hidden and opposite cutting center to each other, the connection being performed on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the centering spindles. The cutting centers are obtained by calculations performed by the mechanism for centering the cutting centers. The above-mentioned definition of the imaginary straight line is applied hereinafter.

Either of the operation for extending/contracting the holding arms or the moving operation performed by the moving means may be performed first or the two operations may be performed simultaneously. Coincidence of the two cutting centers and the axis of the spindles of the veneer lathe with each other is required finally.

The lathe charger according to the present invention may have a structure that the means for moving the holding arms is a rotating mechanism arranged to be rotated about a rotational shaft thereof, and the imaginary straight line passes through the axis of the rotational shaft.

The lathe charger according to the present invention may have a structure that the means for moving the holding arms is a moving mechanism comprising rails for movement, and the imaginary straight line passes through the axis of the holding arms.

According to the present invention, correction of displacements of the cutting centers of the two end surfaces of raw wood automatically calculated by the centering means in two directions on a plane perpendicular to the axis of the spindles of the veneer lathe can be performed. The correction can be performed by moving one of the centering spindles which are holding the raw wood and by performing the extending/contracting operation of the holding arms for holding the raw wood in place of the centering spindles. Therefore, the structure of the apparatus can be simplified, the manufacturing cost can be reduced and satisfactory workability can be obtained.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments described in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1

is a side view showing the overall structure of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2

is a partial view of

FIG. 1

when viewed from an arrow E;

FIG. 3

is a partial view of

FIG. 1

when viewed from an arrow F;

FIG. 4

is a partial view of

FIG. 1

when viewed from an arrow G;

FIGS. 5

to

12

are diagrams showing the operation of the first embodiment;

FIG. 13

is a diagram showing the operation of another embodiment;

FIG. 14

is a diagram showing the operation of another embodiment;

FIG. 15

is a diagram of a structure for controlling the operation of the first embodiment;

FIGS. 16

to

21

show flow charts according to the first embodiment; and

FIGS. 22

to

25

are diagrams showing the operation of another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to

FIGS. 1

to

4

and FIG.

15

. The operation of the embodiments will now be described with reference to

FIGS. 5

to

12

and

FIGS. 16

to

21

.

FIG. 1

is a side view showing the overall structure of a veneer lathe incorporating a lathe charger according to the present invention.

FIG. 2

is a partial view of

FIG. 1

when viewed from an arrow E.

FIG. 3

is a partial view of

FIG. 1

when viewed from an arrow F.

FIG. 4

is a partial view of

FIG. 1

when viewed from an arrow G.

FIG. 15

is a diagram of a structure for controlling the operation of this embodiment.

FIGS. 5

to

12

are diagrams showing the operation of this embodiment.

FIGS. 16

to

21

are flow charts.

The lathe charger according to this embodiment incorporates an introducing mechanism

103

for introducing raw wood, a temporary centering mechanism

111

for detecting a temporary center of two edges of the raw wood, a cutting-center centering mechanism

121

for detecting the cutting center in the two end surfaces of the raw wood and conveying mechanism

151

for conveying the raw wood, the cutting center of which has been detected, from the cutting-center centering mechanism

121

to a veneer lathe body

171

.

As shown in

FIG. 1

, the introducing mechanism

103

incorporates an introducing conveyor

3

capable of sequentially introducing the raw wood

1

and formed such that the introducing conveyor

3

is able to rotate and the rotation of the same can be braked. Moreover, the introducing mechanism

103

incorporates a sensor

3

a

for detecting the raw wood

1

, a fractionating conveyor

5

capable of sequentially fractionating the sequentially introduced raw wood

1

and formed such that the fractionating conveyor

5

is able to rotate and the rotation of the same can be braked. Moreover, the introducing mechanism

103

incorporates a sensor

7

for detecting the raw wood

1

.

As shown in

FIG. 2

, the temporary centering mechanism

111

incorporates a pair of right and left temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

joined to be capable of moving upwards/downwards along inner slide surfaces

91

and

91

a

of a pair of right and left frames

9

and

9

a

, each of the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

being formed into a V-shape. Moreover, the temporary centering mechanism

111

incorporates feed screws

13

and

13

a

for the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

, the feed screws

13

and

13

a

being ball screws or the like. The temporary centering mechanism

111

further incorporates motors

15

and

15

a

for the feed screws

13

and

13

a

for the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

, the motors

15

and

15

a

for the feed screws

13

and

13

a

for the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

being servo motors or the like. The temporary centering mechanism

111

further incorporates displacement sensors

17

and

17

a

for the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

, the displacement sensors

17

and

17

a

for the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

being rotary encoders or the like. The temporary centering mechanism

111

further incorporates sensors

19

and

19

a

for detecting the raw wood

1

which is moved upwards by the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a.

The lower ends of the feed screws

13

and

13

a

are connected to axes of the motors

15

and

15

a

for the feed screws

13

and

13

a

for the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

. The thread portions of the feed screws

13

and

13

a

are received by the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

. The motors

15

and

15

a

for the feed screws

13

and

13

a

for the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

are joined to the frames

9

and

9

a.

As shown in

FIG. 3

, the cutting-center centering mechanism

121

is mainly composed of a movable centering spindle

21

and a stationary centering spindle

21

a

which is not moved. Each of the spindles

21

and

21

a

has a claw which is engaged to the edge of the raw wood

1

.

The movable centering spindle

21

is able to rotate and move in the axial direction thereof by dint of a bearing

23

joined to a movable mount frame

39

. Moreover, the movable centering spindle

21

is able to move in the axial direction thereof by dint of a cylinder

25

joined to the movable mount frame

39

. The movable mount frame

39

is mounted on rails

41

arranged in a direction indicated by arrows T-U which is an example of a direction which intersects an extending/contracting direction of a holding arm

161

to be described later. The movable mount frame

39

is reciprocated in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis of the movable centering spindle

21

by an operation mechanism. The operation mechanism incorporates a feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

, the feed screw

43

being a ball screw or the like. Moreover, the operation mechanism incorporates a motor

45

for the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

, the motor

45

being a servo motor or the like. In addition, the operation mechanism incorporates a sensor

47

for the movable mount frame

39

, the sensor

47

being a rotary encoder or the like. A portion of the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

is connected to a shaft of the motor

45

for the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

, while another portion is screwed in the movable mount frame

39

. The motor

45

for the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

is secured to the frame

9

through a motor mounting frame

45

a

. The rails

41

penetrate the movable mount frame

39

so that the movable mount frame

39

is able to move along the rails

41

.

The rotative stationary centering spindle

21

a

is able to move in the axial direction thereof by a bearing

23

a

joined to a stationary mount frame

37

. Moreover, the stationary centering spindle

21

a

is able to move in the axial direction thereof by a cylinder

25

a

joined to the stationary mount frame

37

. Moreover, the stationary centering spindle

21

a

is also connected to a motor

33

which is capable of revolving the centering spindle

21

and which is a servo motor or the like, the stationary centering spindle

21

a

being connected through a sprocket

31

, a chain

29

and a sprocket

27

. Thus, when the motor

33

is revolved, the stationary centering spindle

21

a

is revolved. Reference numeral

35

represents a rotational-angle sensor

35

for the centering spindle

21

, the rotational-angle sensor

35

being a rotary encoder or the like. The stationary mount frame

37

is joined to the frame

9

, while the motor

33

for revolving the centering spindle

21

is connected to the frame

9

through a motor mount frame

33

a.

The stationary centering spindle

21

a

is able to move in an axial direction with respect to the sprocket

31

and revolve together with the sprocket

31

.

Reference numeral

49

represents a raw-wood-profile sensor arranged to project a propagation medium, such as laser beams, electromagnetic waves or ultrasonic waves, to the outer surface of the raw wood

1

to use reflection of the propagation medium so as to detect the distance to the outer surface of the raw wood

1

. The raw-wood-profile sensor

49

is joined to the frame

9

.

As shown in

FIG. 4

, the conveying mechanism

151

incorporates a rotative support member

51

, brackets

59

and

59

a

arranged to move along slide surfaces

51

a

formed on the lower surface of the support member

51

and holding arms

161

and

161

a

arranged to extend/contract along slide surfaces

591

and

591

a

formed on the inside portion of the brackets

59

and

59

a

. The above-mentioned support member

51

is rotatably supported by bearings

53

and

53

a

. A motor

55

for the support member

51

which is a servo motor or the like controls the reciprocating movement, while a rotational-angle sensor

57

for the support member

51

which is a rotary encoder or the like controls the rotational position. The brackets

59

and

59

a

are, by cylinders

61

and

61

a

joined to the support member

51

, reciprocated in a direction in which the raw wood

1

is held between the brackets

59

and

59

a

through holding arms

161

and

161

a

joined to the slide surfaces

591

and

591

a

. The holding arms

161

and

161

a

are extended/contracted in a direction indicated by an arrows R-S by feed screws

63

and

63

a

for the holding arms

161

and

161

a

and motors

65

and

65

a

for the feed screws

63

and

63

a

for the holding arms

161

and

161

a

. The feed screws

63

and

63

a

are ball screws or the like arranged to be engaged to the holding arms

161

and

161

a

. The motors

65

and

65

a

are servo motors or the like joined to the brackets

59

and

59

a

. The leading ends of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are formed into claw shapes so as to be inserted into the end surface of the raw wood

1

. Reference numeral

67

and

67

a

represent sensors

67

and

67

a

for detecting displacements of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

, the sensors

67

and

67

a

being rotary encoders or the like.

FIG. 15

shows a structure for controlling the operations of the introducing mechanism

103

, the temporary centering mechanism

111

, the cutting-center centering mechanism

121

and the conveying mechanism

151

. A control unit is provided which causes the introducing conveyor

3

, the fractionating conveyor

5

and motors

15

and

15

a

for the feed screws

13

and

13

a

for the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

to automatically be operated in response to signals obtained from the sensor

3

a

and the displacement sensors

17

and

17

a

for the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

. In response to signals obtained from the sensors

7

,

19

and

19

a

, the rotational-angle sensor

35

for the centering spindle

21

, the sensor

47

for the movable mount frame

39

and the raw-wood-profile sensor

49

, the motor

33

for revolving the centering spindle

21

, the motor

45

for the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

and cylinders

25

and

25

a

are automatically operated. In response to signals obtained from the rotational-angle sensor

57

for the support member

51

and the sensors

67

and

67

a

for detecting displacements of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

, the cylinders

61

and

61

a

, the motor

55

for the support member

51

and motors

65

and

65

a

for the feed screws

63

and

63

a

for the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are automatically operated.

The operation of this embodiment having the above-mentioned structure will now be described with reference to

FIGS. 5

to

12

showing the operations and flow charts shown in

FIGS. 16

to

21

.

Referring to

FIG. 1

, when the raw wood

1

on the fractionating conveyor

5

is detected by the sensor

3

a

, a detection signal is supplied to the control unit. In response to an output signal from the control unit, the introducing conveyor

3

is braked (see FIG.

16

).

When the raw wood

1

sequentially introduced by the claw

5

a

of the fractionating conveyor

5

is detected by the sensor

7

, a detection signal is supplied to the control unit. In response to an output signal supplied from the control unit, the fractionating conveyor

5

is braked (see FIG.

17

).

Simultaneously with the operation for braking the fractionating conveyor

5

, the temporary centering mechanisms

111

are operated. Although right and left temporary centering mechanisms

111

shown in

FIG. 2

are individually operated, the operations are the same. Therefore, the operation of only the right-hand temporary centering mechanism

111

shown in

FIG. 2

will now be described and that of the left-hand temporary centering mechanism is omitted from description.

Simultaneously with the operation for braking the fractionating conveyor

5

, the motor

15

for the feed screw

13

for the temporary centering block

11

is operated in response to an output signal from the control unit. Thus, the temporary centering block

11

is moved upwards so that the raw wood

1

is moved upwards. Simultaneously, a signal is transmitted, to the control unit, from the displacement sensor

17

of the temporary centering block

11

.

In

FIG. 5

, distance L

1

from a position at which the sensor

19

detects the upper portion of the raw wood

1

to the axis of the movable centering spindle

21

, distance L

2

from the position at which the sensor

19

detects the upper portion of the raw wood

1

to the lower limit of the temporary centering block

11

, the shape and dimensions of the raw wood

1

are previously communicated to the control unit.

When the sensor

19

detects the raw wood

1

which is being moved upwards, a detection signal is supplied to the control unit. Since distance L

3

for which the raw wood

1

has been moved upwards at the foregoing time has been communicated to the control unit by the signal transmitted from the displacement sensor

17

, the control unit obtains the diameter of the raw wood

1

in response to the signal supplied from the sensor

19

, the distances L

2

and L

3

and the shape and dimensions of the temporary centering block

11

. Thus, the control unit obtains the temporary axis of the raw wood

1

, and obtains radius L

4

of the raw wood

1

(see FIG.

18

).

Then, the temporary centering block

11

in the state shown in

FIG. 5

is furthermore upwards moved for distance expressed such that L

4

+L

1

, and then the motor

15

for the feed screw

13

for the temporary centering block

11

is braked. Thus, the temporary axis of the raw wood

1

is made coincide with the axis of the movable centering spindle

21

(see FIG.

6

).

As described above, also the left-hand temporary centering mechanism

111

shown in

FIG. 2

is operated similarly so that the motor

15

a

is braked. As a result, the temporary axis of the raw wood

1

is made coincide with the axis of the stationary centering spindle

21

a.

After the motors

15

and

15

a

have been braked, the cylinders

25

and

25

a

are operated to forwards move the centering spindles

21

and

21

a

. Thus, the raw wood

1

is held by the centering spindles

21

and

21

a.

Then, the motors

15

and

15

a

are revolved so that the temporary centering blocks

11

and

11

a

are moved downwards to their lower limit positions.

After the downward movement has been completed, the fractionating conveyor

5

is again rotated in response to an output signal from the control unit (see FIG.

17

).

Simultaneously, the motor

33

for revolving the centering spindle

21

is revolved so that the held raw wood

1

is revolved one time (see FIG.

7

). At this time, a signal is supplied from the rotational-angle sensor

35

for the centering spindle

21

to the control unit whenever the stationary centering spindle

21

a

is revolved by an arbitrary number of revolutions. Simultaneously, in response to each signal, the raw-wood-profile sensor

49

transmits, to the control unit, a signal corresponding to the distance to the outer surface of the raw wood

1

. In response to the signals supplied from the rotational-angle sensor

35

for the centering spindle

21

and the raw-wood-profile sensor

49

, the control unit obtains the cutting centers of the two end surfaces of the raw wood

1

(that is, between the end surface adjacent to the movable centering spindle

21

and the end surface adjacent to the stationary centering spindle

21

a

).

If the raw wood has a shape, for example, as shown in

FIG. 8

, the cutting center of the end surface adjacent to the movable centering spindle

21

indicated by a solid line is obtained at position

1

d

indicated by symbol+shown with a solid line. On the other hand, the cutting center of the end surface adjacent to the stationary centering spindle

21

a

indicated by a dashed line is obtained at position

1

e

indicated by symbol + shown with a dashed line.

FIG. 8

is a diagram of the ends surface of the raw wood

1

when viewed from the movable centering spindle

21

in parallel with the centers of the spindles

21

and

21

a

. A straight line passing through the two cutting centers

1

d

and

1

e

shown in

FIG. 8

is defined to be an “imaginary straight line” according to the present invention.

After the cutting centers

1

d

and

1

e

have been obtained, the motor

55

for the support member

51

is revolved to rotate the support member

51

. Thus, the pair of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are moved toward the spindles

21

and

21

a

in a direction indicated by an arrow P shown in

FIG. 9

(see FIG.

19

).

Simultaneously, a signal is transmitted from the rotational-angle sensor

57

for the support member

51

to the control unit. When the control unit has confirmed that the axis

52

of the holding arm

161

(

161

a

) has been made coincide with the cutting center

1

e

of the end surface of the raw wood

1

adjacent to the stationary centering spindle

21

a

, the control unit revolves the motor

55

for the support member

51

.

The position (see

FIGS. 9 and 20

) is a position at which the raw wood

1

is held.

After the motor

55

for the support member

51

has been braked, the motor

45

for the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

is revolved so that a state in which the raw wood

1

is held between the spindles

21

and

21

a

is realized. In the foregoing state, the movable centering spindle

21

is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow T shown in FIG.

3

. Simultaneously, the sensor

47

for the movable mount frame

39

transmits a signal to the control unit.

The motor

45

for the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

is revolved until the imaginary straight line passing through the cutting centers

1

d

and

1

e

coincides with the axis

52

of the holding arm

161

(

161

a

) as shown in FIG.

10

. Thus, the movable centering spindle

21

is moved. When the coincidence of the imaginary straight line with the axis

52

of the holding arm has been confirmed in response to the signal supplied from the sensor

47

for the movable mount frame

39

, the motor

45

for the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

is braked.

Then, the rods of the cylinders

61

and

61

a

are contracted so that the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are moved to approach each other. Thus, the raw wood

1

is held between the holding arms

161

and

161

a.

Then, the rods of the cylinders

25

and

25

a

are contracted so that the spindles

21

and

21

a

are moved rearwards. Thus, the held raw wood

1

is released. Then, the raw wood

1

held between the spindles

21

and

21

a

is held between the holding arms

161

and

161

a.

Then, the motor

55

for the support member

51

is again revolved so that the support member

51

is rotated in a direction opposite to the above-mentioned process. Thus, the pair of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are moved toward the spindles

71

of the veneer lathe, that is, in a direction indicated by an arrow Q shown in FIG.

11

. Simultaneously, the rotational-angle sensor

57

for the support member

51

transmits a signal to the control unit.

Then, the motors

65

and

65

a

for the feed screws

63

and

63

a

for the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are revolved so that the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are extended in a direction indicated by an arrow R. Simultaneously, the sensors

67

and

67

a

for detecting displacements of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

transmit signals to the control unit (see FIG.

20

).

When the control unit has confirmed that the cutting centers

1

d

and

1

e

of the raw wood

1

have been made coincide with the axes of the spindles

71

in response to the signals supplied from the corresponding sensors

67

and

67

a

for detecting displacements of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

, the motor

55

for the support member

51

and the motors

65

and

65

a

for the feed screws

63

and

63

a

for the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are braked.

Then, the spindles

71

of the veneer lathe are moved forwards so as to hold the raw wood

1

therebetween. Then, the rods of the cylinders

61

and

61

a

are extended so that the raw wood

1

held between the holding arms

161

and

161

a

is released.

Then, the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are contracted in a direction indicated by an arrow S shown in FIG.

12

.

The foregoing processes are repeated so that the cutting centers of the raw wood are obtained. Then, the raw wood is supplied in such a manner that the obtained cutting centers coincide with the axes of the spindles.

The above-mentioned embodiment has the structure that the movement of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

in the direction indicated by the arrow Q by dint of the rotation of the support member

51

and the movement in the direction indicated by the arrow R (sometimes in the direction indicated by the arrow S because of contraction) by dint of extension of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

are performed simultaneously. However, either movement may be performed first.

The above-mentioned embodiment has the structure that the axis

52

of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

passes through the rotational axis

51

b

of the support member

51

, as shown in FIG.

9

. The axis

52

is made not to pass through the rotational axis

51

b

by, in parallel, moving the axis

52

of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

or by inclining the same, as shown in FIG.

13

.

The above-mentioned embodiment has the structure that the imaginary straight line and the axis

52

of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

have the relationship that the imaginary straight line and the axis

52

of the holding arms

161

and

161

a

coincide with each other, as shown in

FIG. 10. A

structure having an imaginary straight line

52

a

moved in parallel may be employed, as show in FIG.

14

. In the foregoing case, the motor

55

for the support member

51

is braked in such a manner that the cutting center

1

e

is brought to a position apart from the axis of the holding arm for an arbitrary distance. The foregoing position is made to the position at which the raw wood is held. Then, the motor

45

for the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

is revolved until the imaginary straight line

52

a

is brought to the position at which the imaginary straight line

52

a

is in parallel to the axis of the holding arm so that the movable centering spindle

21

is moved. Thus, the cutting center

1

d

is moved in a direction indicated by an arrow T. The raw wood

1

is supplied to the veneer lathe in such a manner that the cutting centers

1

d

and

1

e

coincide with the axis of the spindles

71

of the veneer lathe.

The mechanism for operating the movable centering spindle

21

according to the foregoing embodiment has the structure that the movable centering spindle

21

is mounted on the movable mount frame

39

. Moreover, the rails

41

are allowed to penetrate the movable mount frame

39

. In addition, the movable mount frame

39

is enabled to reciprocate in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the movable centering spindle

21

by the feed screw

43

which is adapted to the movable mount frame

39

and which is a ball screw or the like, the motor

45

which is adapted to the feed screw

43

for the movable mount frame

39

and which is a servo motor or the like and the sensor

47

which is adapted to the movable mount frame

39

and which is a rotary encoder or the like. The mechanism for operating the movable centering spindle

21

is not limited to the above-mentioned mechanism. Any mechanism capable of controlling the position may be employed.

The above-mentioned embodiment has the structure that the means of the conveying mechanism

151

for moving the holding arm

161

is the mechanism capable of rotating about the rotational axis

51

b

. The mechanism may be a moving mechanism comprising rails for movement.

FIGS. 22

to

25

are diagrams showing the operations of an embodiment using the rails for movement. Referring to

FIG. 22

, reference numeral

9

represents a frame,

161

represents a holding arm,

59

represents a bracket,

51

represents a support member,

49

represents a raw-wood-profile sensor and

71

represents a spindles for a veneer lathe. The above-mentioned structure is the same as that of the above-mentioned embodiment. Reference numeral

72

represents rails for movement arranged between frames

9

. The support member

51

is able to move while the support member

51

is guided by the rails for the movement. Reference numeral

73

represents a feed screw and

74

represents a motor for the support member

51

. The feed screw

73

is able to revolve to the right and left by the motor

74

for the support member

51

so that the support member

51

engaged to the feed screw

73

is moved. Note that the control mechanism for operating the above-mentioned elements has the same structure as that according to the above-mentioned embodiment. Therefore, the control mechanism is omitted from description.

Referring to

FIG. 23

, when coincidence of the axis

52

of the holding arm

161

with the cutting center

1

e

of the end surface adjacent to the stationary centering spindle has been confirmed, the motor

74

for the support member

51

is braked. Moreover, the movable centering spindle is moved to move the movable centering spindle until the imaginary straight line passing through the cutting centers

1

d

and

1

e

coincides with the axis

52

of the holding arm

161

. Then, the unit for holding the raw wood is changed from the centering spindle to the holding arm

161

(see FIG.

24

).

Then, the motor

74

for the support member

51

is again revolved so that the support member

51

is moved in the direction opposite to that in the above-mentioned process. Thus, the holding arm

161

is moved to the spindles

71

of the veneer lathe. Simultaneously, the length of the holding arm

161

is adjusted so that the operation is continued until the two cutting centers

1

d

and

1

e

of the raw wood coincide with axes of the spindles

71

(see FIG.

25

).

Since the present invention has the above-mentioned structure, the structure of an apparatus for correcting the position of the cutting centers of raw wood can be simplified. Moreover, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Although the invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form can be changed in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Number	Name	Date
4197888	McGee et al.	Apr 1980
4378829	Sohn	Apr 1983
4384601	Richert	May 1983
4867213	Bolton et al.	Sep 1989
4884605	Ely	Dec 1989
4949769	Cameron	Aug 1990
4965734	Edwards et al.	Oct 1990
5067534	Toivo	Nov 1991
5421385	McGee	Jun 1995
5449030	Mutsuura et al.	Sep 1995
5518052	Westberg et al.	May 1996

Lathe charger

Information

Patent Number

Date Filed

Date Issued

Inventors

Original Assignees

Examiners

Agents

CPC

US Classifications

Field of Search

US

International Classifications

Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

US Referenced Citations (11)

Foreign Referenced Citations (1)