Patent Application
20080078798
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the detailed description and upon referring to the drawings in which:
In the following description, the same numerical references refer to similar elements. The embodiments shown in the figures are preferred, for exemplification purposes only.
In the context of the present description, the expression “wooden article” includes all appropriate types of wood products, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. For this reason, the expressions “timber”, “lumber”, “board”, “plank” or “article ”, for example, should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention, may be used interchangeably and include all other kinds of items with which the present invention may be used and could be useful.
In addition, although the preferred embodiments of the present invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings include various components, etc., and although the preferred embodiments of the positioning mechanism and system and corresponding parts of the present invention as shown consist of certain geometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not all of these components and geometries are essential to the invention and thus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. should not be taken as to limit the scope of the present invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to a person skilled in the art, that other suitable components and co-operations therebetween, as well as other suitable geometrical configurations may be used for the positioning mechanism and system according to the present invention, as will be briefly explained herein and as can be easily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention.
With reference to
In the illustrated embodiment, the rocker arm 14 is pivotally connected to the frame 12 about an axle 18, enabling the roller 16 to be pivoted between an upper “clearance position” where the roller 16 is elevated and away from the path of the wooden article, and a lower “working position”, where the roller 16 is lowered and apt to interact with the wooden article. These positions are best seen in
The frame 12 is preferably provided with a base 24 for fixing the mechanism 10 along a processing line, and left and right side walls 26 and 28 extending substantially vertically from the base 20 and substantially parallel to one another. Extending transversally between the side walls 26 and 28 are upper and lower cushion supports 30 and 32 for retaining the upper and lower air cushions 20 and 22, respectively.
Referring more particularly to
Advantageously, in the present embodiment the left and right side panels 34 and 36 are disposed outside of the side walls 26 and 28. It will be noted that the cushion supports 30 and 32, faces 40 and 42 and side walls 26 and 28 preferably surround the air cushions 20 and 22 in order to protect them from damage.
In operation, the roller 16 is driven by a motor (not shown) operatively connected to the free end of the axle 18 extending from the left side panel 34. The motion of the axle 18 is transferred to the roller 16, which rotates about a roller axle 46, via gearing 44. The gearing 44 is mounted directly to the right side panel 36. The axle 46 passes through the cushion seat 38 and is mounted, preferably via roller bearings, at both the left and right side panels 34 and 36. The motor axle 46 is preferably substantially parallel to the axle 18.
Positioned on opposite sides of the rocker arm 14, the upper and lower air cushions 20 and 22 cooperate to position the roller 16 by a coordinated inflation of one and deflation of the other. In the first embodiment, this opposition of positions is achieved by positioning the first and second air cushions 20 and 22 above and below the rocker arm 14, respectively.
When the lower air cushion 22 is inflated, as seen in
When the upper air cushion 20 is inflated and the lower air cushion 22 is deflated, as seen in
As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the expressions “inflated” and “deflated” as used herein are not to be construed in absolute terms indicating a complete filling or emptying of air within a given cushion. Rather, the air pressure in the upper air cushion 20 may be simply released as the lower air cushion 22 is expanded, and vice versa.
In an alternate embodiment, the rocker arm 14 extends on both sides of the axle 18 and the first and second air cushions 20 and 22 are disposed behind and in front of the axle 18. As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, placing the air cushions 20 and 22 on opposite sides of the axis of rotation, both either above or below the rocker arm 14, achieves exactly the same functionality as if the air cushions 20 and 22 were vertically opposite one another. More precisely, the inflation of the first air cushion 20 located behind the axle 18 and below the rocker arm 14, combined with the corresponding deflation of the second air cushion 22 located between the axle 18 and the roller 16 will put the roller 16 in the working position. As will be further apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, a similar arrangement wherein both air cushions are above the rocker arm 14 and on either side of axle 18 is similarly within the scope of the present invention.
While in the working position, the height of the roller 16 is further adjustable by an eccentric member 50 which is eccentrically pivotable about a generally horizontal axis with respect to the frame 12. Preferably, the mechanism 10 includes two such eccentric members 50 projecting laterally outward from an adjustment shaft 52 disposed therebetween and engaging the left and right side panels 34 and 36. The adjustment shaft 52 passes through the frame 12 and is mounted, preferably via roller bearings, on both the left and right side panels 34 and 36. Preferably, the adjustment shaft 52 is substantially parallel to the axle 18.
In a preferred embodiment, the eccentric member 50 has a circular cross-section of lesser diameter than that of the adjustment shaft 52. Because the member 50 is eccentric, i.e. the axis of the adjustment shaft, about which it rotates, does not coincide with its geometric center, any rotation thereof will possess a translational component. In the working position, the eccentric member 50 engages the rocker arm 14 and thereby displaces it upon its eccentric rotation with respect to the frame 12.
In an alternate embodiment, and equally within the scope of the present invention, the eccentric member 50 may be cam-shaped, that is having a non-circular cross section. In such a case, any rotation, whether about the geometric centre of the member 50 or not, will similarly cause a displacement of the rocker arm 14 when it is engaging its periphery.
With specific reference to
As illustrated, the eccentric member 50 is located below the rocker arm 14 such that the rocker arm 14 sits thereon, engaging its periphery. Preferably, the eccentric member engages the rocker arm 14 via a block 58 having a flat surface 60. As the eccentric member 50 rotates with respect to the frame 12, the block 58 can pivot about the eccentric member 50 and maintain its contact with the rocker arm 14 along the flat surface 60. Preferably, the block 58 is made of a firm but resilient material, for example a rubber, which contributes to further dampen any shock transmitted from the device 16 to the frame 12.
Once in the working position, the roller 16 can be further adjusted to any position between the minimum height 48 and the maximum working height 54 by rotating the adjustment shaft 52 and displacing the eccentric member 50.
With reference to
As in the previous embodiment, each positioning mechanism 100 includes a frame 112 mounted in proximity to the path of a wooden article and a rocker arm 114 pivotally mounted thereto for holding a roller 116. In this particular embodiment, a second, non-adjustable roller 118 is provided beneath each roller 116 for rotating in conjunction therewith. Again, each rocker arm 114 includes side panels 134 and 136, and a cushion seat 138 extending therebetween, as well as a pair of eccentric members 150 projecting eccentrically from an adjustment shaft 152.
The positioning system 90 further includes a synchronization member 160 operatively connected between the eccentric members 150 so as to synchronize the adjustment of the plurality of rollers 116. The synchronization member 160 may be directly or indirectly connected, but is preferably a mechanical link pivotally connected to each adjustment shaft 152, although it may also be, but is in no way limited to, a pneumatic or hydraulic circuit, an electronic position encoder with servomotors and a controller, or a rack engaging a pinion attached to each eccentric member 150.
In order rotate the adjustment shaft 152, a linear actuator 162 is operatively connected thereto by a linking member 164. The linear actuator 162 can be an electrically or electronically controlled servo motor, but is preferably a screw jack 162 operable by a handle 166 and lockable by a lock 168. In use, an operator adjusts the working height of the device 116 in accordance with the thickness of a particular plank to be processed by turning the handle 166, which drives the screw jack 162 and rotates the adjustment shaft 152 of a first mechanism 100. The adjustment of the working height of the first mechanism 100 is transferred to the remaining mechanisms 100 of system 90 by synchronization member 160. The lock 168 is provided to ensure that the working position is not further altered during operation. Advantageously, this adjustment can be safely and easily carried out during operation of the rollers 116 and hence without unduly disrupting the production line.
As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the use of the actuator 162, the handle 166, and the lock 168 is not limited to the system 90 but is equally applicable to the system 10 of
As being now better appreciated, the present invention is an improvement and presents several advantages over other related devices and/or methods known in the prior art. Indeed, the present invention is particularly advantageous in that it provides a positioning system for a wooden article engaging device with increased adjustability and ease of operation.
Of course, numerous modifications could be made to the above-described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, as apparent to a person skilled in the art. While a specific embodiment of the present invention has been described and illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
