Material or article handling – Article reorienting device – Article inverting means
Reexamination Certificate
2008-03-11
2008-03-11
Hess, Douglas A (Department: 3651)
Material or article handling
Article reorienting device
Article inverting means
C198S402000, C198S403000, C198S416000
Reexamination Certificate
active
11047700
ABSTRACT:
This application relates to a self-contained apparatus for mechanically turning individual workpieces travelling on a conveyor, such as lengths of lumber travelling into or exiting from a sawmill. The invention reduces the need for lumber graders to turn lumber manually and thereby helps avoid repetitive motion injuries. The apparatus includes an adjustable height frame which is positionable alongside the conveyor. The frame supports a workpiece holder defining an open-ended slot for temporarily receiving an end portion of a workpiece. When the end of a lumber board or other workpiece is received within the holder, a proximity sensor causes the holder to rotate, thereby turning the workpiece lengthwise 180 degrees. The workpiece is then deposited on to the conveyor in its inverted orientation for further travel thereon. The apparatus may also optionally permit workpieces to pass through the holder when a “skip” rather than an “invert” signal is received. The workpiece holder may be connected to a rotatable shaft driven by an electric or hydraulic motor.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3887066 (1975-06-01), Houtsager
patent: 4020941 (1977-05-01), Kennedy
patent: 4573863 (1986-03-01), Picotte
patent: 4798278 (1989-01-01), Cornacchia
patent: 5358372 (1994-10-01), Meredith
patent: 5482140 (1996-01-01), Moore
patent: 5743374 (1998-04-01), Monsees
patent: 5836438 (1998-11-01), Jung
patent: 6142287 (2000-11-01), Biffert et al.
patent: 6272437 (2001-08-01), Woods et al.
patent: 6446785 (2002-09-01), Tremblay
patent: 6769529 (2004-08-01), Fournier et al.
patent: 6782991 (2004-08-01), Johansson
patent: 6793454 (2004-09-01), Brizzi
patent: 2422285 (2003-09-01), None
Rick Crosby, Sawmilling—Taking control, Logging and Sawmilling Journal, Sep. 9, 2001, pp. 1-4, http://www.forestnet.com/archives/Sept—01/Taking—Control.htm.
Shark-Fin(tm) Board Turners, www.4sawmills.com/boardturners.jsp, Redco Group 2000.
LandOfFree
Workpiece turning apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Workpiece turning apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Workpiece turning apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3904498