AU667703B2 - Chain conveyor - Google Patents

Description

I I .i -II 66770 3

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 1 i Applicant(s): Kauko RAUTIO Invention Title: CHAIN CONVEYOR i r II rr tl rr The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us: -i 1A- Chain conveyor.

The present invention relates to a chain conveyor, for example, for conveying sawn wood after the sawing machine the chain conveyor being made up of at least two adjacent conveyor chains on top of which the conveyor flights f supporting the sawn wood are located.

In prior known devices, the conveyor flights supporting sawn wood are various flat bar steels, having the length of two chains and being fixedly installed transversely on top of the chain so that they extend beyond the chain by as much as the width of the chain. When the chains are positioned adjacently, the flat bar steel is equally much also on top of the second chain. This is a simple structure, but the maximum width of the conveyor is only twice the minimum width. Using a conveyor wider than a bundle of sawn wood, from which conveyor the boards are transferred by means of blades or guides to board conveyors o s on the sides of the conveyor, sufficient board-ejection force cannot be achieved. A subsequent board must push the 20 preceding one, and thus they will fall irregularly onto the I side conveyors. The boards will wedge against each other, especially if they are waney.

o The object of the invention is to eliminate the t disadvantages described above and to provide a new-type 25 chain conveyor with a regulatable width.

The chain conveyor according to the invention :Ls provided by a chain conveyor for conveying sawn wood comprising at "least two adjacent conveyor chains spaced apart by a predetermined variable distance and conveyor flights located on top of the chains and including means for supporting sawn wood, wherein the support means of the conveyor flights comprises articulated surfaces positioned

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staffliky/keep/specRETYP 33996.93 22.12.95

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i 1B on top of and above the chains and connected in such a manner that the width of the entire chain conveyor can be adjusted to the desired width by adjusting the distance between the conveyor chains.

0 0* 0* .4' staff/iky/keep/sper.LRETYPF-i33996.93 22.12,95 I I I V 2 One embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the conveyor flight is articulated at its center in such a manner that it forms a V-angle which is obtuse when the chain conveyor is in a wide position and acute when the chain conveyor is in a narrow position, and that the width of the chain conveyor can thus be regulated steplessly.

Another &nbodiment of the invention is characterized in that the conveyor chains run in chain guides by which the conveyor S width can be regulated. Between the conveyor chains there is 0 4: further a guide rail or chain supporting the conveyor flights.

A chain conveyor such as this is simple; it is economical to manufacture and reliable in operation.

The invention is described below with the help of an example, S with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figures i, 2 and 3 depict end, top and side views of a section of the conveyor chain in a wide position, Figures 4, 5 and 6 depict the same chain conveyor, but in a narrow position, Figures 7 and 8 depict top views of alternative conveyor flights, in which they are, according to Figure 7, a chain and, according to Figure 8, a belt 6 or a spring steel strip.

The chain conveyor is made up of two adjacent conveyor chains 11 i, on top of which the conveyor flights 2 conveying sawn wood are located. The conveyor flight 2 is articulated in such a manner that the width of the entire chain conveyor can be regulated by adjusting the distance between the conveyor chains.

The conveyor chain 2 is articulated at its center in such a manner that it forms a V-angle which is obtuse when the chain conveyor is in a wide position, Figures 1-3. The V-angle is acute when the chain conveyor is in a narrow position, Figures

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3i 4-6. The width of the chain conveyor can thus be adjusted steplessly. The conveyor chains 1 run in chain guides 3, by which the conveyor width can be adjusted. Between the conveyor chains 1 there is a guide rail 4 which supports the conveyor flights i 2. Since the motor, power transmission, and width-regulating devices belonging to the chain conveyor are systems and applications known per se, these devices are not described in the H present patent application.

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Claims (8)

1. A chain conveyor for conveying sawn wood comprising at least two adjacent conveyor chains spaced apart by a predetermined variable distance and conveyor flights located on top of the cnains and including means for supporting sawn wood, wherein the support means of the conveyor flights comprises articulated support surfaces positioned on top of and above the chains and connected in such a manner that the width of the entire chain conveyor can be adjusted to the desired width by adjusting the distance between the conveyor chains.

2. A chain conveyor according to claim 1 wherein the conveyor flight support surfaces are articulated at the centre of the conveyor in such a manner that they form a V- angle which is obtuse when the chain conveyor is in a wide 000o position and acute when the chain conveyor is in a narrow position, wherein the chain conveyor width can thus be adjusted steplessly. 0 o 0 00

3. A chain conveyor according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conveyor chains run in chain guides and the o 0width of the conveyor can be adjusted by articulated o conveyor flight support surface. 0

4. A chain conveyor according to claim 1 or 2 which further comprises a guide rail positioned between the o040 conveyor chains and connected to the support surfaces of the conveyor flights.

A chain conveyor according to claim 4 wherein the conveyor flights include first and second support surfaces each having a first and second end, with the first ends pivotably connected to the conveyor chains and the second Sstaffliky/keep/speciRETYPE/33996.93 31.1.96 Vj 1e i W t i~l-------'rm~~lxrrlr Psr~-r?= ends pivotally connected to the guide rail and each other to form an articulated joint such that linear movement of the guide rail causes pivotal movement of the support surfaces and a change in the width of the conveyor.

6. A chain conveyor according to claim 5 wherein a plurality of conveyor flights are provided with each flight connected in the same manner so that the angles formed by the support surfaces are the same and is oriented in the same direction for each flight.

7. A chain conveyor according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the support surfaces include a chain a belt or a spring steel strip.

8. A chain conveyor substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 15 DATED THIS 22TH DAY OF DECEMBER 1995 KAUKO RAUTIO By Its Patent Attorneys: GRIFFITH HACK CO., Fellows Institute of Patent 20 Attorneys of Australia ril U t I ll E t;:i j:i ii r-i i 1 i;i 0 99 e 9 ore SD o+ o D o 0 e 0 o u e 0 4 o e G o 0 o a o e or 0 4 o a o o r 4 o a EL'~ c: 'I I: 9 p staff/iky/keep/specURETYPEJ33996.93 22.12.95 i Abstract the in-ention relates to a chain conveyor, for example for conveying sawn wood after a sawing machine, the chain conveyor being made up of two adjacent conveyor chains on top of which the conveyor flights supporting sawn wood are located. The conveyor flight is articulated in such a manner that the width of the entire chain conveyor can be regulated by adjusting the distance between the conveyor chains. Figure 2