Automatic infeed apparatus for a woodworking machine
Abstract:
The invention is an automatic, unmanned, powered, variable speed finger joint machine infeed apparatus which receives a random and haphazard delivery of blocks from a controllable supply conveyor. An intermittently operable infeed conveyor moves blocks from the supply conveyor to an unscrambler, through which a slat chain travels and picks up blocks. The slat chain is composed of two chain loops, connected at regular, equal intervals by slats. The unscrambler partially singularizes and orientates blocks transversely to the direction of travel and the slat chain pushes blocks over an even ending conveyor which aligns them to the inside of one of the chains. The slat chain pushes the even ended blocks under a block hold down, which allows excess blocks to drop out of the system, and then over a moisture detecting system. Blocks containing unacceptable moisture fall through a gap in the working table while blocks with acceptable moisture are pushed by the slats over a door covering the gap and onto an outfeed table. The slats are synchronized to the lugs on the finger joint machine's lug chain and deposit correctly aligned and orientated blocks precisely on the lug chain. The slat chain then rotates upward and loops back over the working table and then down, under the infeed conveyor to re-emerge at the unscrambler.
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