U-SHAPED BOARD UNSCRAMBLER
First Claim
1. A board unscrambler adapted for unscrambling boards comprising:
- a frame having an entrance and an exit for the boards, the frame comprising;
a U-shaped accumulator portion in which the boards accumulate after the entrance; and
an upward slope portion between the U-shaped accumulator portion and the exit; and
a powered conveyor comprising catches for carrying forward the boards along the frame from the U-shaped accumulator portion through the upward slope portion toward the exit;
wherein boards which are not directly or indirectly carried forward by the catches will fall back in the U-shaped accumulator portion thereby resulting in an unscrambling of the boards which are carried forward.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A board unscrambler for sorting a plurality of boards comprises a frame having an entrance and an exit. The frame comprises a U-shaped accumulator near the entrance and an upwardly substantially longitudinal slope connecting the U-shaped accumulator portion to the exit. The board unscrambler further comprises a powered conveyor which substantially adopts the shape of the frame, comprising driving chains and a plurality of spaced apart catches mounted on the driving chains for mating with and displacing the boards along the frame from the U-shaped accumulator portion toward the exit. Accordingly, the board unscrambler features accumulation capability, thereby increasing efficiency and regulating performance.
12 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A board unscrambler adapted for unscrambling boards comprising:
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a frame having an entrance and an exit for the boards, the frame comprising; a U-shaped accumulator portion in which the boards accumulate after the entrance; and an upward slope portion between the U-shaped accumulator portion and the exit; and a powered conveyor comprising catches for carrying forward the boards along the frame from the U-shaped accumulator portion through the upward slope portion toward the exit; wherein boards which are not directly or indirectly carried forward by the catches will fall back in the U-shaped accumulator portion thereby resulting in an unscrambling of the boards which are carried forward. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of unscrambling boards comprising:
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providing boards perpendicularly to a forward direction of movement of the boards; accumulating boards in a U-shaped accumulator; and a conveyor catching at least some boards for carrying them forward on an upward slope still perpendicularly to a forward direction of movement of the boards; wherein boards which are not directly or indirectly carried forward by the catches will fall back from the upward slope or remain in the U-shaped accumulator thereby resulting in an unscrambling of the boards which are carried forward.
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19. A board unscrambler adapted for unscrambling boards comprising:
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a U-shaped accumulator in which the boards accumulate after entering the board unscrambler; an upward slope after the U-shaped accumulator; and a powered conveyor comprising catches for carrying forward the boards from the U-shaped accumulator through the upward slope; wherein boards which are not directly or indirectly carried forward by the catches will fall back from the upward slope or remain in the U-shaped accumulator thereby resulting in an unscrambling of the boards which are carried forward.
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Specification