The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 02, 2005
Filed:
Oct. 04, 2001
Steven L. Aylsworth, Chatfield, MN (US);
Steven L. Aylsworth, Chatfield, MN (US);
Acer, Inc., Rochester, MN (US);
Abstract
The present invention provides an efficient, reliable lumber magazine feeder that can supply large numbers of boards of all sizes. Some embodiments of this magazine lumber feeder comprise of one or more modules, each capable of dispensing a particular width of board. These modules may comprise a gripper/shuttle assembly, an overhead rail, and an adjustable lumber support. The gripper/shuttle assembly contains hydraulic valving to operate two hydraulic cylinders. The first cylinder grips the bottom most board in the stack by clamping onto the narrow dimension on a board. The second cylinder is capable of moving the gripper assembly in a push or pull direction, thus sliding the bottom board from its stacked position. The present invention may also include a programmable logic controller that receives electronic commands from an automatic saw, or the like. The controller in some embodiments receives electronic signals representing a desired board size from the automatic saw. The controllerthen processes those signals and activates the correct module, which causes the feeder to dispense one board. Each request sent to the controller in these embodiments will result in one board being dispensed.