Board Stacking Apparatus with Movable Support Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional board stacking apparatuses in lumber mills are bottlenecked by the slow speed of mechanical arms or forks, which limits overall production speed and is power-consuming due to constant resistance against inertia.

Innovation Solution

A board stacking apparatus with movable supports having arms that span the stack, utilizing a minimal displacement and power assembly to execute a layer stacking routine, including positioning, dispensing, and dropping board layers with reduced mechanical complexity and increased efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional mechanical arms or forks are used for stacking boards, then the stacking operation can be performed, but the stacking speed is limited and power consumption increases due to constant resistance against inertia

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking speedVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the mechanical arms or forks through large distances in complex trajectories, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the support structure stationary and only moving the board layer itself forward onto the stack. This eliminates the need for power-consuming inertial resistance while maintaining stacking functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the stacking function from the complex mechanical arm system and isolates it to a simple linear movement of the board layer onto a stationary support. By removing the unnecessary mechanical movement components, power consumption is eliminated while stacking speed is improved.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If multiple sets of mechanical arms or forks operate in alternating manner to increase stacking speed, then the stacking pace improves, but the number of mechanical components, overall complexity, space, and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking paceVSAvoidnumber of mechanical components

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the stacking process into two independent parts: a stationary support structure and a moving board layer. This segmentation allows the stacking function to be performed without requiring multiple complex mechanical arms, reducing component count while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The stationary support structure serves multiple functions: it provides the stacking surface, acts as a stopper to prevent board movement, and remains in place for continuous operation. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for multiple specialized mechanical components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If mechanical arms or forks are displaced over distances of several meters, then the stacking operation can be completed, but the overall process speed is limited to the maximum pace of the arms or forks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestacking operation completionVSAvoidoverall process speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of moving the support structure over several meters, the invention inverts the approach by keeping the support stationary and only moving the board layer a short distance forward onto the stack. This dramatically increases the overall process speed while maintaining operational completeness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Area of stationary object

If the stacking apparatus is designed with compact dimensions, then it can be installed in confined spaces without interfering with stick placing apparatuses, but the mechanical arms or forks may have limited range of motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapparatus footprintVSAvoidrange of motion

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the stacking function from the mechanical arms and implements it through a stationary support structure with minimal moving components. This extraction allows the apparatus to be compact and installed in confined spaces while maintaining full stacking capability through the simple linear movement of the board layer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentUS9272852B2Board stacking apparatus

Publication Date: 2016.03.01 9374-4399 QUEBEC INC

AI summary

A board stacking apparatus having one or more movable supports having at least two arms each, a rear stopper and a power assembly operatively connected to the movable support to move the same according to a layer stacking routine. The layer stacking routine includes positioning the movable support at a receiving position, maintaining the movable support in the receiving position while the boards are dispensed thereon, and moving the movable support in a rearward direction. The board stacking apparatus further comprises abutment components located proximate to and slightly below a board dispensing mechanism of the apparatus to support the receiving end of corresponding arms when in the receiving position.