Method and apparatus for high speed variable tier width lumber stacking

US5964570A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• CAE Electronics Ltd. CAE Electronique Ltee · CA

Inventors

• George Dimion · Salmon Arm, CA
• Wayne Webber · Salmon Arm, CA
• Robert W. Hart · Salmon Arm, CA
• William R. Newnes · Salmon Arm, CA
• Steven W. Michell · Burns Lake, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 25, 1997
• Grant date: Oct 12, 1999
• Expiry date: Jul 25, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B65G57/18
• WIPO field: Handling
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A tier forming and handling device for forming and handling sequential tiers of lumber from a flow of elongate boards translated on a first conveyor in a first flow direction, wherein the boards are aligned along their length generally perpendicularly to the first flow direction, having a mat forming mechanism for collecting, by selectively actuable hook stops, the flow of elongate boards against the hook stops so as to form a mat of lumber having a downstream end adjacent the hook stops and an upstream end whereagainst the flow of elongate boards may continue to collect into abutting adjacent array; a mat separator for separating, along the first conveyor, at a selectively adjustable separation location, a tier of lumber from the downstream end of the mat of lumber; and, a variable speed tier accelerator for conveying and selectively variably accelerating the tier of lumber, once separated along the first conveyor, from the first conveyor to a hoist stacker, wherein the selectively adjustable separation location is selectively adjustable along the first conveyor so as to selectively adjust a first dimension of the tier parallel to the first direction.