Lumber Handling and Cutting Apparatus with Dynamic Conveyor Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Lumber saws face challenges in efficiently handling and cutting lumber boards of different sizes and orientations, requiring frequent adjustments and reconfigurations, which leads to inefficiencies in time, cost, and safety for operators.

Innovation Solution

The lumber handling and cutting apparatus includes an incoming material conveyor assembly, a printer assembly for marking lumber, a material infeed assembly for reorienting and supporting lumber, a cutting assembly for processing, and an outfeed assembly for orienting and reorienting lumber, allowing for automated handling and cutting of lumber boards with varying dimensions and orientations without the need for frequent adjustments.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If lumber saws are adjusted and reconfigured between processing lumber boards of different characteristics, then the ability to handle various lumber types is improved, but operational time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to handle various lumber typesVSAvoidoperational time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamically adjustable conveyor speeds and orientations that can be modified during operation to accommodate different lumber board characteristics. The system transitions from static fixed settings to dynamic adjustable parameters, allowing the conveyor to adapt its speed and angle in real-time based on the lumber being processed, thereby eliminating downtime for reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters such as conveyor speed, orientation angle, and positioning coordinates to handle different lumber types. By varying these parameters continuously or stepwise during operation, the system maintains versatility while avoiding the time loss associated with physical reconfiguration and setup changes between different lumber processing tasks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If manual handling and cutting of lumber boards is used, then operational flexibility is maintained, but operator safety decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational flexibilityVSAvoidoperator safety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs automated alignment and positioning of lumber boards using computer-controlled conveyors and sensors. The equipment self-adjusts and self-aligns the lumber without requiring manual intervention from operators, thereby maintaining operational flexibility while significantly improving safety by eliminating human exposure to hazardous cutting zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual mechanical handling operations are replaced with automated computer-controlled mechanical systems. The patent uses programmable conveyors, sensors, and control systems to automatically position and align lumber boards, substituting human operators with automated mechanisms that perform the same functions with enhanced safety and consistency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Adaptability or versatility

If frequent adjustments and reconfigurations are made, then adaptability to different lumber characteristics is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different lumber characteristicsVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a universal conveyor system that can handle multiple lumber characteristics through programmable control rather than multiple specialized machines. The same conveyor infrastructure performs alignment, positioning, and transport functions for various lumber types by changing software parameters, reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate dedicated systems for each lumber type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary alignment and positioning actions automatically before the cutting operation. By pre-aligning the lumber boards using sensor-guided conveyors and automated positioning mechanisms, the system prepares the workpiece in advance, reducing the need for complex real-time adjustments during the cutting process and simplifying the overall control system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11708222B2Lumber handling and cutting apparatus

Publication Date: 2023.07.25 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC

AI summary

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a lumber handling and cutting apparatus, including an incoming material conveyor assembly, a material infeed assembly adjacent to the incoming material conveyor assembly, a cutting assembly adjacent to the material infeed assembly, a material outfeed assembly adjacent to the cutting assembly, an outgoing material conveyor assembly adjacent to the cutting assembly, and a printer assembly adjacent to the incoming material conveyor assembly and the material infeed assembly.