Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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_..
This is a divisionof applicationSerial No. 317,403
file~ December 5, 1978.
This invention relates to a method, apparatuses
and combination of apparatuses for making shingles from logs
of wood or blocks of material suitable for use as shingles.
Most shingle making systems utilized today require
manually handling the rough CUt shingles as they are cut from
a block and further manual handling to trim the edges of the
rough cut shingles. The operation is quite dangerous for the
operators as they are standing closely adjacent two power
driven circular saws rotating in planes perpendicular to one
another. The saws are approximately 30 inches in diameter
and the operator,by hand,grabs each individual rough shingle
~s it is severed from a block of wood by one saw and pOSitiOl-S
and feeds it to tlle other saw to trim the edges of the shil-gle.
e op~rator~ fingers are closely adjacent one or the other of
the two rotating saws and thus the operator must take extreme
care so as not to lose a finger or two. In some areas, labour
codes limit the number of shingles that can be handled per
minute by each operator and this of course is for safety
reasons to avoid fatigue, with resultant increased li~elihood
of possible accidents. In some regions the operators are
limited to handling a maximum of thirty four shingles per
mlnute, which for the operator is relatively fast, but from a
productivity ~oint of view is relatively low. The hand oper-
ation in manufacturing shingles is also wasteful as the oper-
ators, being mindful of their fingers, will waste more on an
edge cut from a shingle than perhaps is necessary.
Attempts have been made by others to im~rove certain
aspects of tlle operation in manufacturing shakes or shingles,
One proposal is disclosed in Canadian Patent No. 949,855,
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issued January 25, 1974, to John ~. Ilughes. In this patent
there is disclosed apparatus for making shakes and such apparatu~
consists of a feed mechanism mounted on a carriage that is
reciprocably mova~le to feed a block thereon, to a revolving
saw that is disposed in a fixed position. 1'he feed mechanism
tilts the ~lock alternately first in one direction and thell in
ano~l~r to cut shingles from the block, taperin~ first in one
direction and then in a direction opposite thereto.
Another proposal is disclosed in Canadian Patent No.
571,062, i4su~d ~-e~ruary 24, 1959, to J.M. Copely, and which
discloses apparatus for trimming edges of shingles. In this
patent there is also briefly disclosèd conveyor means for
moving shingles flatwise, to and through a work station. In
Canadian Patent No. 478,270, issued November 6, 1951, to
L~ , there is disclosed another conveyiny
means for trans~orting shingles to and through a shingle finisll-
ing station.
The fore~oiny references typically exemplify the fact
that the prior proposals have been directed only to one or the
other of the many different facets or operations in making
shingles.
One object of the present invention is to provide an
integrated system and apparatus for making shingles.
Another o~ject of the present invention is to provide
various novel a~aratuses which may be used independently or in
association with one another.
Another object of the present invention is to
mechanize the operation in making shingles, to improve product-
ivity and quality of shingle produced, while at the same time
~1~83Z3
reduce waste.
The parent application is directed to a method of
making tapered shingles comprising: clampingly holding a block
of material to be cut into shingles; conveying the block while
it is clamped along a selected path through the clamping
mechanism, intermittently and in substantially equal increments,
in the same direction, at each of opposite ends of the block;
causing relative movement between a first cutting means and the
clamped block to cut a first shingle from the leading face of
the block tapering in thickness in one direction relative to the
length of the shingle; and causing relative movement between a
second cutting means and the clamped block to cut a second
shingle from the block tapering in thickness in a direction
opposite to that of the first shingle, said first and second
cutting means cutting respectively along planes inclined
relatively to one another and traversing the path of travel of
the block.
The present application is directed to apparatus for
trimming shingles comprising movably mounted cutting means,
a scanner, means for conveying the shingles in sequence through
the field of view of the scanner and along a selected path
past the cutting means, a computer operatively associated
with the scanner for receiving and processing information
from the latter as to selected parameters associated with each
shingle, and means operatively associated with the cutting
means to move the same in response to signals dervled from
the computer for appropriately cutting the shingle as
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they are conveyed along the selected path. Preferably they
are first and second cutting means spaced apart from one
another along the path of travel of the shingles, with the
scanner located upstream of the first cutting means. The
scanner provides information to the computer which determines
the maximum width for each shingle, and imperfections in
the shingles, such as the location of knot holes. The computer
from such information provides signals to actuate the respective
first and second cutting means, so that the shingles are cut
to the maximum width permitted and the imperfections removed.
Each of the first and second cutting means preferably comprise
two cutting devices each movably mounted to move in directions
transverse to the direction of travel of the shingle.
The invention is illustrated by way of example in
the accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating schematically
the overall shingle manufacturing process provided in accord-
ance with one aspect of the present invention.
Figure 2 is similar to figure 1 but diagrammatically
includes therein certain parts of the apparatus provided in
accordance with the present invention for making shingles;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a block feed
and shingle cutting apparatus provided in accordance with the
present invention;
Figure 4 is similar to figure 3, but with parts
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omitted or broken away to more clearly illustrate the feed
mechanism;
Fi~3ure 5 is a front elevational view of the block
feed mecllanism shown in fiyures 3 and 4;
Figure 6 is a top plan view of the block feed
mechallism shown in figures 3 and 4;
Figure 7 is a detailedfront and end views of one
of the driven ~eed rollers of the block feed mechanism;
Figure 8 is an oblique, broken view of the shingle
~ut~lng portion ~f the apparatus;
Figure 9 is a side elevational view o~ the front
portion of a shi}lgle trimming apparatus provided in accordance
with the present invention;
~ igure 10 is a continuation of figure 9, showing the
remaining portion of ~le shingle trimming apparatus;
Figure 11 is a top view of Figures 9 and 10 taken
toye th er;
Figure 12, appearing on the same sheet of drawings
as Fig. 6, is a top plan diagrammatic view of the scanner
illustrating the function of the same;
Figure 13, appearing on the same sheet of drawings
as Fig. 10, is a schematic of the sensing and computer control
of the shingle trimming apparatus; and
Figure 14 is a schematic illustrating basic functions
of the computer.
The overall process is diagrammatically illustrated
in Figure 1 and referring thereto the process in general
consists of conveylng logs to a log cutting station to sever
the log into blocks of selected length. From the cutting
station the logs are moved to a splitting station where they
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are split into appropriate size and/or shaped portions and/or
relative to the grain for subse4uently ~eing cut into ~hinyles.
qhe split blocks are conveyed to a storing station from which
tney are fed by way of a conveyor to a ~hingle cutting statiorl.
lBe shingles fronl the shingle cutting station are conveyed to
and through an edging or trimming station and tlle finished
shingles are tllen sorted and those unsuita~le for use passed
to waste or remdnufacturing while the r~maining are packaged
L-or s}lipll~ellt. lhe ~resent invention concerns not only the
overall process for making s}lingles but also particular
a~paratus involving the shingle cutting station the shingle
edging or trimming station and the conveyors. As will be seen
hereinafter there i~ provided a novel conveyor apparatus for
moving t~le split blocks incrementally and holding them while
a novel cutting arrangement is utilized to cut shingles in
sequence from the leading face of the block fed thereto by t}le
conveying system and a combination of such a~paratuses. At th~
shingle edgin~ station there is novel apparatus for edging the
shingles which includes movably mounted cutting means oper-
atively associated with a scanner and computer to detect anddetermine where cuts are necessary for edging and/or removing
defects. ~he c~m~uter actuates movement of the cutting appar-
dtUS so that th~ sllingle will be appro~riately cut as it is
moved along by conveying means. A novel conveying apparatus is
also provided to align the sllingles for trim~ling edges squared
to the butt end of the shingle.
Referring to figure 2 logs A are conveyed endwise
by a conveyor B of any suitable form to a log cutting station C.
At this station there is a stop mechanism Cl positioned relative
to a log severing mechanism C2 to cut a block of preselected
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length from the leading end of the log and which determine~
the length of the shingles which normally are 16 inches or
l8 inches. The ~top Cl is operatively associated witI~ the
drive ~l of conveyor ~ to stop t~le same, and simultaneously
therewith actuate operation of the cutting mecIlanism C2 to
sever a block froal the log and such operative inter-relation-
sIli~ is diagraI~natically illugtrated in ~igure 2 by respective
lines Ll and L2. The blocks from station C are moved by way
of a conveyor ~ to a block splitting station E and from there
1~ the split ~locks are fed by way o~ a conveyor F ~o a block
st~rage station G. Erom the block storage station G blocks
are conveyed in sequence by a ~onveyor II to a processing line
consisting of a shingle cutting station I followed by a shingl~
tril~uing station J, followed by a shinyle sorting and bundlin-~
station K. There may be one or more processing lines each
having their own split block storing station G, or alternatively
all processing lines may be supplied from a conunon storage
station. The s~lit blocks are cut into rough shingles at the
shingle cutting station I, and the rough shingles therefrom
2~ are moved by a system of conveyors through the shingle edging
or trimming apparatus identified by the refereIlce J. The
trimnled ShillgleS pdSS therefrom to the grading and sorting
station K where tl~ey are sorted as to ~uality and/or width
into one of three or four different stations. Waste shingle4
are removed and those requiring remanufacturing are returned.
Shingles suitable for use are packed into ~undles of pre-
determined size for s~.ipnlent.
SIIINGLE CUTTING SrArIO~
Details of various pieces of the apparatus of the
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~18323
sh.illgle cutting station I are shown in figures 3 to 9 in-
clusive, and referring now to these figures the ~hingle cutting
s~ation consigts of a shingle cutting section 200 and a coln~ined
block clamping and index feed section 3~0. For convenience,
the section 300 will hereinafter be referred to as the block
feed and will be de~scribed in detail hereinafter.
The shinc31e cutting section ~see fi~ures 3 and 8)
COJlSiSts of a rigid frame assembly 210, on wllich there is
swinyably mounted cutting mechanisms generally referred to by
the referellce numeral 250. The frame 210 has four corner pos~s
211 and on the top end thereof there is a rectangular peripheral
frame consisting of side members or beams 212 and 213, inter-
connected at opposed ends by cross beams 214 and 215.
~'he cutting mechanisms 250 are swingably mounted on
the upper frame oscillating two separate cutting devices back
and forth in a path transverse to the direction of feed of
blocks conveyed incrementally thereto by the block feed
conveyor 300. The two cutting devices are designated in
general respectively by reference numerals 251 and 252, and
since they are sul~stantially identical to one another, only
one will be described in detail~ The cutting devices are inter-
connected for swinging movement in timed relation so that
cutting a shingle from the face of a block is first effected
by one cutting device and then by the other as the frame
oscillates back and forth.
The cutting device 252 consists of a ~ir of vertical
rigid frame members 253 and 254, interconllected at the top by
a cross bar 255 and at another position s~aced downwardly
therefrom by a further cross bar 256. The rigid frame consist
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1118323
ing of uprights 253 and 254 and cross bars 255 and 256 is hung
in a swin~able manner from respectiVe beams 212 and 213 by a
pair of journals 257, and a shaft 258. The shaft 258 is secured
to the respective uprlghts 253 and 254 and journalled for pivotal
movement in the pair of aligned bearing blocks or journals 257.
A second shaft 259 is journalled for rotation adjacent the lower
end of respective members 253 and 254 by respective ones of a pair
of bearing 260. Attached to one end of the shaft 259 is a circu-
lar saw blade 261 and on the opposite end a drive pulley 262. The
saw blade 261 is driven by way of an electric motor 263 mounted on
cross beam 255, the saw being driven by way of one or more
V-belts 264.
The cutting device or unit 251 is substantially the
same as that of 252 and thus will not be described other than to
designate the circular saw thereof 261A, and also point out that
it is driven to rotate in a direction opposite to that of saw
blade 261. The saw blades 261 and 261A rotate in respective ones
of two different planes that are tilted in directions opposite to
one another corresponding to the amount of taper desired for
each shingle.
The pair of cutting devices 251, 252 are interconnected
by a pair of adjustable length link members 265, 266. The frame
of cutting device 252 has a rigid arm 267 secured to cross bars
256 and 255 and projects upwardly from the latter. The projecting
portion has a series of apertures 268 to receive a pivot pin 269
connecting one end of an adjustable length link member 270
thereto. The link member 270 is associated with a drive
mechanism that oscillates the frames back and forth about their
respective mounting shafts 258.
The drive mechanism includes a motor 271, mounted on
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the peripheral frame by a suitable bracket, drivingly
connected to a speed reducer 272 by way of a V-belt, or
multiplicity of V-belts 273. Tlle output shaft of tlle speed
reducer, by way of the pulley 274 and V-belt 275 drives a crank
arm 276 journalled on a bracket 277 secured to tlle frame. Lin~
mem~er 270 is pivotally attached to the arm 276 by way of a
pivot pin 278.
From the foregoing it will be clearly evident
drive motor 271,through the drive mecllanism,will cause cutting
devices 251 and 252 to oscillate back and fort~l and t~le amount
of arcuate travel is determined by the location of pivot pin
269 relative to the pivot axis defined by shaft 258. Centeril~g
of the cuttiny devices for corresponding travel relative to the
path of travel of blocks fed thereto by block feed 300 can b~
adjusted by the variable length link 270.
As will ~e seen herbinafter, a shingle is CUt frOIII d
block first by saw 26 and then by the saw 26A (or vice versa).
These saws are tilted relative to a vertical plane and in direc-
tions opposite to one another so that olle saw will cut a shingle
from the block ta~ering from one end towards the other, and the
other saw will cut a similar tapered shingle but tapering in the
opposite dir~ction. This tilt of the respective saws in the
op~osite directions avoid4 the necessity of tilting the block
to get a ta~ered ~l~ingle and permits utilizing apparatus that
will securely hold the block while ~eing cut.
Details of the block feed 30a are illustrated in
fiyures 3 to 7 inclusive, and referring to these figures there
is illustrated respective upper and lower driven conveyors
3~1 and 3~2 driven in synchronism incrementally by drive means
designated ~enerally by the reference nwneral 3~3. The upper
and lower conveyorso the feed mechanism are mounted on a support
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1118323
frame 304 con-~isting of a ~eldment of members which are rigidly
attached to the frame 210 of the shingle cutting section 200.
The frame 304 has an u~per portion 305 and a lower portion 306
interconnected by vertical straps 307. In addition to frames
210 and 304 bein~ interconnected, the latter is provided with
legs 308 to stabilize the entire structure.
The upper conveyor 301 has an outer frame 309 rigidly
bolted to tlle up~er frame 305 by bolt and nut assemblies 310,
in either one of two different positions, depending on the
length of block to be fed to the saws. Figure 3 shows the
upper conveyor in its lowermost position for 16 inch blocks
and the frame 305 is provided with additional holes 311 to
locate the conveyor in an upper pOsitiOIl for receiving and
conveying 18 inch blocks. These dimensions however may be
varied dépending upon the length of block utilized for making
~hingles.
Secured to and projecting downwardly from the frame
309 are a pair of anns 312, and journalled on these arms,
adjacent the free end thereof, is a first roller 314A of a
plurality of roller~ 314 that constitute the upper conveyor.
Additional rollers of the upper conveyor, downg~ream from the in-
feed end are designated respectively, 314B, C, D, etc. and the last
of which is designated 314G. Opposite ends of each adjacent
pair of rollers are interconnected by res~ective ones of a pair
of links 315 and each pair of links are interconnected by a
cross bar 316. Each cross bar 316 is connected to a rigid
frame member consistiny of interconnected angle members 317,
318 and 319, by a pair of guide bolts 320 coaxially disposed
within compression springs 321. The guide bolts are attached
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to the bars 316 at one end and the opposite end UaS~es througt
an aperture in respective ones of members 317 and 319 and re-
tained in an assel~led state with the ~pring under compressiol-
~y way of nuts 322.
The roller~ 314 interconJIected by links 315 effe~L-
ively form an drticulated link conveyor and forces are a~plied
thereto to claJ~ Jly engage the ~lock ~etween the upper and
lower conveyor tlrough the compresgion s~rirlg~ by d plleUlllatiC
~r llydraulic cylinder unit 323. rhe cylinder of tne hydrauli~
1~ cylinder unit is fixed relative to the frame (304 305 21~)
and the uiston rod end is connected to member 318 by way of th~
pivot pin 324. l`lle ~ars 317 and 319 at the opposite end
tllereof relative Lo mel~er 318 are pivotally attached to
fra~l~e 3~9 ~y Wdy of pivot pins 325.
lhe feed rollers 314 will be described in detail
hereinafter ~ut at this point it will be mentioned that each
s}laft thereof has two sprockets fixed to one end thereof so
as to be driven ~y roller chains looped around tlle sprockets
of two adjacent rollers. The roller 314G i.e. the furthest
from the in-feed end of the conveyor is driven by way of a
one way clutch 326 mounted on the shaft of tl~e roller. The
clutch is preferd~ly a ratchet type and has an arm 327 attach~
thereto witl- an el~llgate slot 328 therein in which tllere is
attached one end of a push rod 329. The attachment to the
lever 327 is such that the push rod can pivot relative thereto
and is adjustably positionable at any location longitudinally
alon~ the slot. This adjustment permits s~lectively varying
the ~uount of incremental feed of the ~lock and determineS
the thickness of shingle to be cut from the leading end of the
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~1~8323
block.
The lower conveyor 302 consists of a ~lurdlity ~f
driv~ll rollers 330, the last one of which, dowllstr~dnl from
the in-fe~d ~nd o~ the conveyor, is desiynated 330P. q~he
rollers 330 are ~-dch jourllalled for rotation on the fr~ne
304, and each adjacellt pair are drivingly int~rconnected by
roll.er chaill 331. The roller 330P i6 driv~n throu~h a one
way clutch 332, mounted Oll the shaft thereof, which iS the
same as the one way clutch 326 except for direction of drive.
The one way clutch 332 has an arm 333 attached thereto and in
which there is located an elongate slot 334. A push rod 335
has one end thereof attached to the arm 333 by way of the slot
334 and, as in ~L~Vious case, is pivotal but selectively
slidab,le and positionable at any position longitudinally alol~g
the slot.
The ~ush rods 329 and 335 are attached by way of a
pivot pin 336 to the piston rod 337 of an air or hydraulic
cylinder unit 338. 'l~he cylinder unit 338 is double acting and
reciprocation of the piston rod cause~ the rollers of the
2~ respective up~er and lower conveyors to rotate counter to one
ano~her, moving a block clampingly engaged between the upper
and lower conveyors in a direction to tl-e right as viewed in
figure 4. The block is moved increment~lly by way of the
ratchet clutches an ~lount corresponding to the thicknes5 of
shingle to be cut from the leading fac~ of the block.
Actuation of the air cylinder unit 338 is timed with the
swinging movement of the cutting devices, by a switch 340
mounted on the saw supporting frame 212 (see figure 8~. The
switch 340 is operated by a lever ~41 attached to shaft 258
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8323
mounting the saw unit 252 on the frame, and controls operation
of valves for the fluid circuitry of cylinder unit 338 (or
power actuator as it may also be called).
From figure 4 it will be seen the lower conveyor
30~ is longer than the upper conveyor 301. ~locks to be cut
into shingles are fed to the lower conveyor by way of a gravity
roller conveyor 350 after wllich they are moved to the right ~s
viewed in figure 4 by the lower driven conveyor 302. The
s~ace between the upper and lower conveyor is such that at the
in-feed end of the upper conveyor there is room for the block
to be conveyed tllereinto by the lower conveyor. These conveyors
converge in a direction toward one another in the direction of
feed and thus as tlle block moves progressively to tne right
(as viewed in figure 4) it is clampingly engaged between the
upper and lower conveyors securely holding the block to with-
standing forces applled thereto during cutting. The forces
applying clamping pressure are applied by way of the pnewnatic
or hydraulic cylinder 323, which supplies a downward force on
the frame (317, 318, 319) and which in turn, by way of com-
pression springs 321 applies downward forces on the adjacent
pairs of rollers.
As previously mentioned and clearly illustrated in
figure 3, the driv~n circular saw blades 261, 261A are tilted
in o~posite directions to one another relative to a vertical
plane. In operation the block is fed in increments by the
upper and lower conveyors by way of the drive mechanism and
pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder 333. A first shingle will be
cut for example by saw blade 261 as the frame swings to the
left as viewed in figure 8, and on the return stroke, when the
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saw 261 is clear of the block, the block will be indexed
forwardly by the conveyor for another shingle. As the frame
swings further to the right as viewed in figure 8, another
shingle will be cut from the leading face of tJle block by saw
blade 261A. It will be readily apparent from this and the
slope of the two SdW blades that the shingle cut by the saw
blade 261 will taper from one end to the other and the shingle
cut by saw blade 261A will taper in the opposite direction.
As far as the rollers of the upper and lower conveyors
are concerned, attelltion is directed to figure 7 which illus-
trates feed roll 314~ in detail. The feed roller has a shaft
350 on which there is mounted (or alternatively formed integrally
therewith) a plurality of wheels 351 spaced apart from one
another longitudinally along the shaft and secured thereto for
rotation therewith. Each of the wheels 351 has a saw tooth
periphery or other rouyh surface for tractively engaging a
block to be propelled thereby. The shaft 350 is journalled
for rotation at opposite ends thereof in respective ones of the
pair of links 315 previously described that interconnect
adjacent pairs of the driven rollers. One end of the shaft has
a pair of sprockets 352 and 353 for rolling engagement with
chains 331. One cllain 331 is looped around a sprocket of each
adjacent pair of rollers. From figure ~ it will be clearly seen
that the double sprockets effectively provide two rows of link
chains 331, there being a link chain drivillgly interconnecting
each adjacent pair of rollers throughout the length of the
conveyor. The one way clutch 326 has a ratchet in the hub
coo~erating in a conventional manner with a notched drive wheel
connected to the shaft 350.
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1~183~3
S5~INGLE TRIMMING STATION
The rough cut shingles from the shingle cutting
station are guided by way of a downwardly inclined chute or
trough 400, either into a collecting ~in located in the prox-
imity of the in-feed conveyor for the shingle edging section J,
or alternatively onto a conveyor 401 which delivers them in
sequence to the shingle trimming station J. The shingle trinun-
ing station consists of an infeed conveyor 600, a sensor 700
having a computer operatively associated therewith, a conveyor
800, a first shingle trin~ing section 900, which is followed
by a conveyor 1000. A shingle hold down and assist conveyor
1100 is associated with adjacent ends of conveyors 800 and 1000
and the trimming section 900. Preferably there is also a ~econd
shingle trimming section 900A operatively associated with a
second transfer and shingle hold down conveyor 1100A and which
is followed by an outfeed conveyor 1200 that corlveys the shingles
to the shingle collecting and packa~ing station K.
Shingles from tne conveyor 4Ci are ~eposited in
sequence on the infeed conveyor 600 of the shingle edging
station J with the thick butt end trailing in reference to
the direction of travel of the infeed conveyor. Improperly
oriented shingles can be detected and appropriately turned in
many different ways. This function can be carried out man-
ually or mechanically. For example, a shingle orientation
detection means 402 can be associated with conveyor 401 and
a shingle turning mechanism 403 to actuate the latter for
appropriately turning improperly oriented shingles. The turning
mechanism 403 can be a suction wheel, finger, turning plate or
combination thereof, all of which are well known in the conveyor
art.
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The conveyor 6Q0 (See ~igures 2, 9 and 11) includes
a table on whlch there is an upper flat surface 601, and over
which bars of a bar conveyor move in the direction of the arrow
as indic~ted in Figure 2. The bar conveyor consists of a pair
of endless chains 602 spaced apart from one another laterally
across the table and which are looped around sprockets respect-
ively on an idler shaft 603 and a driven shaft 604. Shaft 604
is driven by way of motor 605 through a drive belt 606. The
laterally spaced chains 602 are interconnected by a plurality
of bars 606 spaced apart from one another longitudinally along
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the length of the table and such bars have their leading face
607 disposed perpendicular to the direction of travel of the
conveyor. The up~er surface of the table top 601 has an aper-
ture therein (or foraminous area) designated 608 and which by
way of a conduit 609 is connected to a vacuum source. The
vacuum source acts on a shingle passing thereover impeding
movement of the shingle over the surface of the table top thlls
re~uiring additional force by bar 606 to move tlle ~hingle alon~
the ta~le surface. This addi~ional force causes the butt end
of the shingle to bear against the edge 607 of the bar, thus
squaring the shingle for subsequent tri~ing ensuring that the
edges of the shingle are perpendicular to the butt end. Othe
means of impeding movement of the shingles may be utilized,
for ex~ple, a roughened surface on the table to~, or material
applied thereto, selected frictionally to impede the movement
of the shingle so that if the shingle is askew relative to tl,~
direction of travel, it will be appropriately aligned for
further processing by contact with the edge face 607 of the bar.
By having the butt end of the shingle completely in contact
with the edge face 607, the shingle is squared for trimming
by saws or otl~er cutting devices further downstream~
Fro~ the conveyor 600 the shingles pass onto conveyor
B00 and in so doing traverse the field of view of a scanner
70~ located therebetween. The scanner consists of a light
source 701 and a detector section 702. The light source 701
consists of a plurality of incandescent bulbs located in
alignment longitudinally across the path of travel of the
shingle and at a position therebetween. Ttle detector section
has one or more sensors located above the path of travel of the
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. ~183Z3
shingle and is aligned wit}l the light source. The sllingles
passing through between the light source 701 and detector 702
provide a signal to a computer 703 which controls actuation of
the trinLming sections downstream of tlle siensor.
Figure 12 diagrallunatically illustrates a shingle S
being scanned and relative to a reference line T parallel to
the direction of travel of the shingle. ~rhe scanner detects
dimensions indicated as U, V, W and X. q~his information is
fed to the computer 703 controlling movement of cutting devices
further downstream, and from such information provides signals
to cut along lines designated Ul, Xl, Vl and Wl. Dimension U
provides information as to the minimum amount which can be
trimmed from one ed~e of the shingle and dimension X provides
information as to the minimwn amount which can be trimmed from
the other edge of the shingle. Dimensions V and W provide
information for removal of, for example, an open knot hole, suL,-
dividing the shin~Jle S into shingles Sl and S2.
From conveyor 600 the shingles pass on to conveyor 800
W~liCh consists of an endless belt 801 looped around idlers 802
and 803 disposed respectively at opuosite ~rlds of a table
support 804. An idler 805 is disposed L~elow the table, as is
also a driven roller 806 and the endless belt 801 is looped
around these rollers. The driven roller 806 is mounted in
journals 807 adjustd~ly movable relative to a support 808 to
tension the endless belt 801. Roller 806 i5 driven by way of
the electric motor 605 through a V-belt 809.
Above the upper traverse of the endless belt 801,
there are two idlers 810 and 811 journalled for rotation on
re~pective shafts 812 and 813. The shaft B12 is disposed adjacent
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the free end of a pair of arms 814 pivotally attached at their
opposite end to the table 804 by pivot pins 815. Similarly,
shaft 813 is mounted adjacent the free end of a ~air of arms
816 pivotally attached at their opposite end to the table 804
by pivot pin 817. The rollers 810 and 811 are hold down roller~
ensuring the shingles to be trimmed are held in the same line
of travel as the shingle moved when passing through t}~e field
of view of the scanner.
An idler wheel 818 is in rolling engagement with the
inner face of the endless belt 801 and provides information
to the computer as to the lineal speed of the belt, which in
turn corresponds to the feed of the shingles to the trimming
section. From the conveyor the shingles pass to the first
trimming section 900 on to the conveyor 1000, and from there to
the second trimming section 900A on to an out feed conveyor
1100. ~ridging the gap between the conveyor 800 and conveyor
1000 and the gap between conveyor 1000 and conveyor 1100, are
respective ones of a pair of hold down and assist conveyors
designated respectively 1100 and llOOA.
Each trimming section 900 and 900A are the same and
thus only one will be described herein. Trimming section 900
consists of a pair of power driven circular saws 901 and 902
mounted on respective ones of a pair of movable carriages 903
and 904. ~he carriages 903 and 904 are mounted on respective
ones of a pair of ~arallel bars 905, for reciprocal movement
in directions toward and away from the feed path of the
- conveyors. The carriages are reciprocably moved by respective
ones of hydraulic or pneumatic piston cylinder assemblies 906
and 907,which move the respective saws 901 and 902 to an
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li~83~3
appropriate positiol as determinad by the computer to trim the
respective opposite outer edges of the shingle, removing
minimal material as determined by the computer from signals
obtained by the s~nsor. The edge cuts by saws 901 and 9~2 are
determined by respective dimensions U and X as indicated in
figure 12. Each saw 901 and 902 is a circular saw blade mounted
on the end of a shaft journalled on the respective carriage and
cantilevered therefrom, and drivingly connected to an electric
motor 908 carried by the carriage associated ~herewith. The
amount of reciproca~le movement of the carriages determines
the maximum and minimum width of a shingle and preferably are
set to cut shingles to a minimum width of 3 or 4 inches and a
maximum width of 18 inches. Of course, other dimensional limits
may be utilized, de~ending on the amount of travel of the
respective carriages and the size of shingles to be trinumed.
The second shingle trinuning or cutting apparatus 900A
is identical to that illustrated and described with reference
to the shingle trimming section 900, and is controlled by the
computer for movement as determined by dimensions V and W, to
remove fr~m the shingle an open knot hole or the like other
defect as detected by the sensor, severing the edge trimmed
shingle into two smaller shingles.
While the shingles are being trinuned by the saws at
the respective cutting stations or trimmers, forces are applied
to the shingle by the rotating saws and to counteract these forces
there is the shingle hold down and assist conveyors 1100 and
llOOA. These conveyorS each consist of a first and second
respective curved metal shrouds 1101 and 1102 hingedly inter-
connected by a pivot pin 1103. The shroud 1101 is fixed to a
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8323
frame in relation to the other conveyors and has a power
driven feed roll 1104 thereon extending transversely across
the direction of travel of the shingle. The shroud 1102 has a
power driven feed roll 1105 journalled on the free end thereof.
A handle 1106 is provided on the shroud 1102 forlifting
of s~me to provide access to the circular saws located there-
under, facilitating maintenance operations. The weight of t~e
shroud 1102 and/or weiyht of the relatively heavy roller 1105
mounted thereon, keeps the latter in contact with the conveyor
belt and/or presses a shingle thereon, holding the shingle in
place and assists feeding the same in timed relation to move-
ment of the conveyor while a saw trims the edges of the shingle.
Obviously, the shrouds and/or power driven rollers thereon may
be spring loaded for appropriate pressural engagement with the
respective conveyors and/or shingles thereon to hold shingles
in position while they are being trimmed.
While circular saws are described and illustrated at
each of the trimming stations 900 and 900A, other trimming
devices may be utilized such as band saws, reciprocating saws
2~ or water jet or air jet cutting devices. Obviously, it is
preferred to use a cutting device which applies minimum force
to the shingle while cutting, reducing the forces required to
hold the shingle in place while being cut, and/or ensuring
the shingle does not become misaligned or offset from the path
of travel followed by the shingle througl- the field of view of
the detector.
Conveyor 100~ consists of a table 1001 having rollers
1002 and 1003 disposed respectively at opposite ends thereof
An endless conveyor belt 10~4 is looped around the rollers and
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3Z3
one of such rollers is driven by way of a V-~elt from a line
shaft to convey the shingles to the shingle defect cutting
station 900A. Conveyor belt 1004 is relatively narrow (as
is also conveyor belt6 801) and the shingles are held thereon
by an upper conveyor belt lOOS looped~around rollers 1~06, 1007
and 1008. The bottolll traverse of conveyor ~elt 1005 is biased
downwardly toward the u~per traverse of belt 1004 by way of a
plurality of foot ~lates 1008, spring loaded and biased down-
wardly as ~iewed in figure 9 by a plurality of compression
springs 1009, The trin~led shingles are conveyed by conveyor
1200 to a collector container 1400, as geen in figure 10, or
alternatively directed by appropriate means to one or the other
of a plurality of tables where they are bundled, or in the
case of rejects sent on to waste or redirected f~r recutting.
The general functioning of the scanning and trim
section computer is illustrated in figures 13 and 14 where the
shingles are conveyed along in the direction of arrow A through
the view of the scanner onto the first set of trim saws 900
and then onto the defect saws 900A. Signals to the computer
7~3 are derived from the scanner 700 and the roto pulser 818.
The information from these means is used to provide signals to
actuate control valves for power units 906 and 907 to move the
trim saws 900 and defect saws 900A, moving the carriages
appropriately to trim the edges of the shingle and remove
defects. Figures 13 and 14 are schematics illustrating the
basic co~puter control function. The pulser 818 provides
information to the computer as to the speed of travel of the
shingles and with the distance of travel from the scanner to
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~8323
the reSpective saws ~00 ~nd ~QQ~ being kno~n the time for
actuating the saws can be determined ~y the computer. The
scanner 700 pro~ides information to the computer for each shingle
travelling along the conveyor and the computer determines the
location for each saw cut line U, V, W, and X, for each shingle
which is stored ln a memory and used to actuate movement of the
trim saws and defect saws at an appropriate time for each of the
respective shingles. The data from the memory is removed after
being used permitting storing further data from succeeding
shingles moved through the field of view of the scanner. Precise
details of thP computer components are believed unnecessary as
stock items can be used and appropriately assembled by anyone
skilled in compucer technology.
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