Hold down apparatus for commercial wood molder

• US 6,557,600 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2002
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Infinite Reverse Profiling
• Original Assignee: Infinite Reverse Profiling
• Inventors: VeNard, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRAY, WAYMOND D
• Application Number:
  US10/067,713
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 83/13, 834/65, 144/2.1, 144/134.1, 144/114.1, 144/242.1, 144/243, 144/244, 144/250.12, 144/250.18, 269/266, 269/20, 269/25, 269/32, 294/88
• US Class Current: 144/250.18
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2421 the parts having a linear movement
• CPC Class Codes: B27B 29/00 Gripping, clamping, or holding devices for the trunk or log in saw mills or sawing machines for other timber, see the relevant groups for the machines; safety guards or devices specially designed for wood saws B27G19/00; Travelling trunk or log carriages for logs being held in a cantilever manner B27B17/0075

Abstract

A hold down apparatus for a commercial molder is provided. The hold down apparatus generally includes a number of hold down plates adapted to hold down a work piece as it is conveyed through the commercial molder. A method of holding down a work piece in a commercial molder is also provided.

Claims

1. A hold down apparatus for a commercial molder, comprising:

a frame of a rigid material, said frame comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls opposing each other;

at least one member having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said first sidewall and said second end attached to said second sidewall;

a plurality of hold down plates substantially aligned axially with one another relative to the longitudinal axis of said at least one member, at least a portion of which are between said sidewalls and adjacent said at least one member, said hold down plates being movable in a generally vertical direction, and movable to a down position due to gravity, said hold down plates being positioned so that said hold down plates are capable of contacting and holding down a molding.

2. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said hold down plates comprise an organic substance.

3. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 2, wherein said hold down plates comprise ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene.

4. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 3, wherein said hold down plates have an aperture therein, said at least one member passing through said aperture.

5. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said at least one member is a rod.

6. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said at least one member comprises mild steel.

7. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 4, wherein said aperture is elongated.

8. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal axis of said hold down plates is substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of a work piece being conveyed through the commercial molder.

9. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said hold down plates are in a juxtaposed position relative to one another.

10. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said hold down plates generally comprise an L-shape.

11. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said hold down plates comprise a rectangular shape.

12. A hold down apparatus for a commercial molder, comprising:

a frame of a rigid material, said frame comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls opposing each other;

at least one member having a first end and a second end, said first end attached to said first sidewall and said second end attached to said second sidewall;

a plurality of hold down plates substantially aligned axially with one another relative to the longitudinal axis of said at least one member, at least a portion of which are between said sidewalls and adjacent said at least one member, said hold down plates being movable in a generally vertical direction, and movable to a down position due to gravity, said hold down plates being positioned so that said hold down plates are capable of contacting and holding down a molding; and

further including a rigid plate adjacent said hold down plates and movable in a substantially horizontal direction to press said hold down plates against each other when pressure is applied against said rigid plate.

13. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein said rigid plate comprises mild steel.

14. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 12, wherein said rigid plate comprises aluminum.

15. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 12, and further including a pneumatic cylinder attached to said frame, said pneumatic cylinder adapted to exert pneumatic pressure against said rigid plate.

16. A method for holding down a molding, comprising the steps of:

providing a hold down apparatus comprising;

a frame of a rigid material, said frame comprising a first sidewall and a second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls opposing each other;

at least one member having a first and a second end, said first end attached to said first sidewall and said second end attached to said second sidewall;

a plurality of hold down plates at least a portion of which are between said sidewalls and adjacent said at least one member, said hold down plates being movable in a generally vertical direction wherein said hold down plates are in a down position and said hold down plates are positioned so that said hold down plates is capable of contacting and holding down a molding;

a rigid plate adjacent said hold down plates and movable in a substantially horizontal direction to press said hold down plates against each other when pressure is applied against said rigid plate; and

raising said hold down plates to an up position, said hold down plates being held in the up position by applying pressure against said rigid plate;

upon entry of a work piece beneath the hold down plates, releasing the pressure against the rigid plates thereby allowing said hold down plates to fall; and

supplying pressure against said rigid plate to move said rigid plate in a substantially horizontal direction to press said hold down plates against each other.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said hold down plates are of an organic substance.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said hold down plates comprise ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said hold down plates have an aperture therein, said at least one member passing through said aperture.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said at least one member comprises a rod.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein said at least one member comprises mild steel.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein said aperture is elongated.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein the longitudinal axis of said hold down plates is substantially perpendicular in relation to the longitudinal axis of a molding being conveyed through the commercial wood molder.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein said hold down plates are in a juxtaposed relative to one another.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein said hold down apparatus further comprises a pneumatic cylinder assembly attached to said frame and adapted to supply pressure against said rigid plate.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said pneumatic cylinder assembly includes a housing and said at least one member is attached to said pneumatic cylinder assembly housing.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein said rigid plate comprises mild steel.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein said rigid plate comprises aluminum.

29. A commercial molder, comprising:

a first frame of a rigid material;

cutter devices, said cutter devices comprising one or more cutting heads and attached to said first frame; and

a hold down apparatus attached to said first frame and adjacent said cutter heads, comprising;

a second frame of a rigid material, said second frame comprising two sidewalls opposing each other;

at least one member, said at least one member attached to each of said sidewalls;

a plurality of hold down plates substantially aligned axially with one another relative to the longitudinal axis of said at least one member, at least a portion of which are between said sidewalls and contacting said at least one member, said hold down plates being movable in a generally vertical direction, wherein said hold down plates are positioned so that said hold down plates are capable of contacting and holding down a molding.

30. The commercial molder defined in claim 29, wherein said hold down plates comprise an organic substance.

31. The commercial molder defined in claim 29, wherein the longitudinal axis of said hold down plates is substantially perpendicular relative to the longitudinal axis of a work piece being conveyed through the commercial molder.

32. The commercial molder defined in claim 29, wherein said hold down plates are in juxtaposed position relative to one another.

33. The commercial molder defined in claim 29, and further including a rigid plate adjacent to said hold down plates and movable in a substantially horizontal direction to press said hold down plates against each other when pressure is applied against said rigid plate.

34. A hold down apparatus for a commercial molder, comprising:

a frame of a rigid material, said frame comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall, said first and second sidewalls opposing each other;

a plurality of hold down plates, at least a portion of which are between said sidewalls, said hold down plates being movable in a generally vertical direction, and being positioned so that said hold down plates are capable of contacting and holding down a molding; and

a pneumatic assembly in engagement with said hold down plates and adapted to raise said hold down plates when pneumatic pressure is applied.

35. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 34, wherein said pneumatic assembly comprises a pneumatic cylinder, a horizontal rod, and a vertical rod;

said hold down plates having apertures therein and said horizontal rod being within said apertures, and wherein said vertical rod is attached to said horizontal rod and said pneumatic cylinder.

36. The hold down apparatus defined in claim 35, wherein said horizontal rod and said vertical rod are attached to one another by a threaded connection.