Cam-Actuated Board Feeder for Precise High-Speed Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing board feeding systems struggle with maintaining precise spacing and alignment of boards on conveyors, particularly at high speeds, and often fail to consistently feed the last board due to misalignment and inconsistent cam wheel actuation.
Innovation Solution
A board feeder apparatus that uses cam wheels with lobes to actuate a pivoting stop-end, utilizing gravitational force and propulsion by acceleration wheels, and incorporates a pivot-arm roller and pneumatic cylinder to ensure smooth and consistent feeding, allowing boards to be pulled onto the outfeed conveyor without lifting over a stop.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a stop mechanism with cam wheel is used to transfer boards individually, then board positioning precision is improved, but the system fails to consistently feed the last board causing misalignment and interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer mechanism is divided into multiple independent transfer elements (multiple cam wheels and multiple pivot arms with stop-ends) arranged in sequence. This segmentation allows each element to handle individual boards independently, ensuring that even the last board can be reliably transferred without causing system-wide interruptions or misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single stop mechanism that lifts the leading edge of the board over a stop, the invention uses multiple pivot arms with stop-ends that descend below the bottom surface of the board. This inverted approach allows the stop-ends to clear the board and enable transfer, solving the problem of incomplete feeding while maintaining positioning precision.
2Ease of operation
If boards are lifted over a stationary stop for transfer, then individual board separation is achieved, but board alignment is disrupted and the last board cannot be moved onto the second conveyor
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional approach by having stop-ends that pivot downward below the board rather than lifting the board over a stationary stop. This allows the board to slide smoothly over the stop-end during transfer, maintaining alignment while achieving individual board separation. The stop-ends clear the board path after transfer, enabling even the last board to be moved onto the second conveyor.
Solution Approach 2:
The stop-ends are positioned in the vertical dimension below the board bottom surface rather than at the board level. This dimensional change allows the stop-ends to perform their function of stopping and releasing boards without interfering with board alignment in the horizontal plane, solving both separation and alignment requirements.
3Productivity
If high-speed board transfer is implemented for economical production, then productivity increases, but the stop arm cannot be completely raised within the gap causing inconsistent operation
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple cam wheels and pivot arms are arranged in sequence, allowing the system to process boards at high speed through parallel operations. Each pivot arm handles individual boards independently, enabling rapid cyclic operation without requiring any single stop arm to travel the full distance, thus maintaining reliability at high productivity levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The cam wheels are positioned to begin actuating the pivot arms before the boards reach the transfer zone. This preliminary action allows the stop-ends to be in the correct position for high-speed transfer, ensuring consistent operation even at increased production speeds where timing is critical.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system maintains board alignment and ensures consistent feeding, even at high speeds, by optimizing gravitational force and cam wheel actuation, enabling smoother motion and reliable transfer of all boards to the outfeed conveyor.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing gravitational force and propulsion by acceleration wheels
Implementation Method 2
cam wheels with lobes to actuate a pivoting stop-end
Implementation Method 3
propulsion by acceleration wheels
Implementation Method 4
propulsion by acceleration wheels
Data Source
AI summary
A board feeder apparatus for a board conveying system that typically includes an infeed conveyor and an outfeed conveyor having a downstream end, and an upstream end overlapping with the board feeder apparatus which comprises an infeed end and an outfeed end, and an intermediate conveyance means for conveying boards transversely to the flow path essentially in edge-to-edge abutment of adjacent board trailing edges against subsequent board leading edges. Preferably the feeder apparatus further includes at least one cam wheel, each connected to a first drive shaft and having a circumferential edge defining a plurality of lobes. It also includes at least one acceleration wheel, each connected to the first drive shaft and having a circumference larger than that of said lobes. Also included is at least one first pivot-arm, each comprising a stop-end and a cam roller rollable atop the circumference of the lobes in accordance with rotation of the cam wheel by the drive shaft, said stop-end pivoting from a lowermost position below the bottom surface of the leading board and an uppermost position wherein the stop-end stops passage of the leading board onto the acceleration wheel. Also included is at least one biasing means of biasing the respective roller downwardly against the circumference of the cam wheel. During conveyance of boards down the board feeder apparatus, the stop-end in its uppermost position stops passage of the leading board until rotation of the drive shaft rotates the cam wheel and pivots the stop-end to its lowermost position so the conveyance means feeds the leading edge of the leading board onto the acceleration wheel, which pulls the leading board onto the outfeed conveyor. Ideally each stop end includes a roller reducing the friction with the underside of the leading board during pivoting, so conveyance to the acceleration wheel begins earlier (as the stop-end commences downward pivoting) and continues better even while the stop end pivots back upwardly and contacts the trailing portion of the departing leading board.